Tag: Harriet Harman

Women’s rights to be championed by appointment of new UK Special Envoy

JOBS FOR THE GIRLS? Harriet Harman to champion gender equality worldwide as new UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls

  • Harriet Harman announced as new UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls.  
  • Appointment underlines the UK’s ongoing commitment to empowering women and girls around the world. 
  • New role will help champion gender equality worldwide and help deliver global economic growth as part of UK government’s Plan for Change.

The Foreign Secretary has today appointed Harriet Harman as the new UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls. She will begin her appointment on International Women’s Day (Saturday 8 March 2025). 

For International Women’s Day 2025, this Government is accelerating action to change women’s lives.  

This plan is built on the foundations of our Plan for Change for this country to have a strong economy.  

Creating opportunities for working women runs through the milestones of this government: from breaking down the barriers to opportunity which have held women back, making our streets safer, to rebuilding our public services and delivering growth that can be felt across every part of the country.  

The government is supporting stability overseas to help deliver these milestones. In her role as Envoy, Harriet Harman will coordinate efforts across the globe to ensure women and girls are empowered and have their rights protected, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, access to education, and freedom from gender-based violence.  

Throughout her career, Harriet Harman has been a vocal advocate for women and girls, including on issues such as women’s political representation, maternity rights, and tackling violence against women and girls.

In her previous role as Solicitor General, Harriet led a successful drive within Government to make tackling domestic violence a priority.

The campaign led to the introduction of a new law – the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act – to ensure more effective prosecutions for domestic violence and a new network of 60 specialist domestic violence courts. 

Harriet’s appointment underlines the UK’s ongoing commitment to empowering women and girls in the UK and around the world.  

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “I am delighted to appoint Harriet Harman as the new UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls.   

“Accelerating action on equality for women and girls is vital to delivering the global economic growth we need and, a safer, more secure world.  

“Harriet has spent her career championing women’s rights and gender equality. Her record of achievement and personal commitment make her a formidable advocate for the rights and empowerment of women and girls around the world.”

Minister for International Development Baroness Chapman said: “Harriet Harman is a legend on women’s rights and is rightly regarded as a pioneer and an inspiration to women in the UK and across the world, including me.

“I am thrilled she has been appointed Special Envoy, and I look forward to working with her on protecting hard-won rights and creating more opportunities for women”

Special Envoy for Women and Girls Harriet Harman said: “Over the last decades we have made tremendous strides towards ending women’s inequality. But the job is far from done.  Women and girls are still not equal, and many still face oppression, violence and discrimination. 

“It’s a great honour to have been appointed UK Special Envoy For Women and Girls and look forward to driving this important work.

“The UK will, in coalition with women around the world, play a key role in standing up for the rights of all women and girls at a critical time.”

Dissolution (Dis)honours

A final insult from the outgoing Tories – and Starmer’s Labour plays the game

AWARDS FOR ‘POLITICAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE’ … REALLY?

‘The King has been graciously pleased to signify His intention of conferring the following Honours’:

Damehood of the Order of the British Empire 

The Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey PC – Formerly Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. For political and public service. 

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath 

The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE PC – Deputy Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office. Formerly Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and Chairman of the Conservative Party. For political and public service. 

The Rt Hon Julian Smith CBE PC – Formerly Government Chief Whip and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. For political and public service.  

The Rt Hon Robert Ben Wallace PC – Formerly Secretary of State for Defence. For Political and public service.  

Knighthood of the Order of the British Empire

The Rt Hon Alister Jack DL – Formerly Secretary of State for Scotland. For political and public service.

All individuals nominated for honours have gone through probity checks by the Cabinet Office.

Dissolution Peerages 2024

The King has been graciously pleased to signify His intention of conferring Peerages of the United Kingdom for Life upon the undermentioned:

Nominations from the Leader of the Conservative Party

  1. The Rt Hon Sir Graham Brady PC – Lately Member of Parliament for Altrincham and Sale West, and Chairman of the 1922 Committee.
  2. The Rt Hon Chris Grayling PC – Lately Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell, and former Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and Leader of the House of Commons.
  3. The Rt Hon Dame Eleanor Laing DBE PC – Lately Member of Parliament for Epping Forest, lately Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.
  4. Craig Mackinley JP – Lately Member of Parliament for South Thanet.
  5. The Rt Hon Theresa May PC – Lately Member of Parliament for Maidenhead, former Prime Minister and Home Secretary.
  6. The Rt Hon Sir Alok Sharma KCMG PC – Lately Member of Parliament for Reading West and former Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Secretary of State for International Development and President for COP26.
  7. Liam Booth-Smith – Lately No10 Downing Street Chief of Staff.

Nominations from the Leader of the Labour Party

  1. The Rt Hon Dame Margaret Beckett GBE PC – Former Foreign Secretary and former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
  2. John Cryer – Lately Member of Parliament for Leyton and Wanstead.
  3. The Rt Hon Harriet Harman KC PC – Lately Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham, and formerly Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
  4. The Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge DBE PC – Lately Member of Parliament for Barking and former Minister of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
  5. The Rt Hon Kevan Jones PC – Lately Member of Parliament for North Durham and former Minister for Veterans at the Ministry of Defence.
  6. Barbara Keeley – Lately Member of Parliament for Worsley and Eccles South and formerly Shadow Minister for Music and Tourism.
  7. The Rt Hon John Spellar PC – Lately Member of Parliament for Warley and formerly Comptroller of the Household in the Whips’ Office.
  8. The Rt Hon Dame Rosie Winterton DBE PC – Lately Member of Parliament for Doncaster Central and former Deputy Speakers in the House of Commons.

Nominations from the Liberal Democrat Party

  1. Caroline Pidgeon MBE – Lately Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the London Assembly.

Nominations from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)

  1. Thomas Elliott MLA – Member of the Legislative Assembly for Fermanagh and South Tyrone and former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

Nominations for Crossbench Peerages

  1. Minette Batters – Former President of the National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales.
  2. Dr Hilary Cass OBE FRCN FRCGP – Former president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

All individuals nominated for peerages have gone through vetting checks, and the Chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission has confirmed to the Prime Minister that all individuals are supported by the Commission.