Furious female Labour MPs urge Starmer to make a woman his de facto deputy

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Alexandra Topping Political correspondentFebruary 11, 2026 at 03:20 PM

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Following recent scandals and accusations of a "boy's club" atmosphere in Downing Street, female Labour MPs are urging Keir Starmer to appoint a woman as his de facto deputy. Harriet Harman has suggested reviving the role of first secretary of state, traditionally the most senior cabinet member after the prime minister, and insists it be filled by a woman to transform the political culture and prioritize issues affecting women and girls. This push comes after scrutiny surrounding Peter Mandelson and Matthew Doyle, sparking anger among Labour MPs, particularly women, who feel their voices are not adequately heard. The MPs believe a female first secretary of state would drive cultural change and hold government departments accountable for their work on women's issues. In the wake of these events, Starmer's team has seen changes, including the resignation of his chief of staff and appointments of acting joint chiefs of staff.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sophie Nazemi 30% Alison McGovern 40% Jill Cuthbertson 40% Vidhya Alakeson 40% Gordon Brown 40% Morgan McSweeney ×250% Matthew Doyle ×260% Downing Street 60% Peter Mandelson ×470% Harriet Harman ×380% Keir Starmer ×590% Labour Party ×390%

Keywords

labour mps 90% culture change 80% keir starmer 80% de facto deputy 70% women 70% peter mandelson 60% downing street 60% first secretary of state 50% violence against women 50% political culture 40%

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Negative

Score: -0.40

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The Guardian - World News

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90%

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Downing Street

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labour mps culture change keir starmer de facto deputy women peter mandelson downing street first secretary of state violence against women political culture

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