A group of female Labour MPs has demanded that the next prime minister, Andy Burnham, commit to a 50:50 gender split in his top team. The request, made in a draft letter from the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party (WPLP), says Labour must lead by example with its own personnel if it wants to be seen as the party of equality. The demand reflects a long-standing frustration within the party about the under-representation of women at the highest levels of government.
At its core, the debate is about who gets the most powerful jobs in a government. In the UK, the prime minister appoints cabinet ministers, junior ministers, and other senior roles. These appointments shape policy and set the political agenda. The WPLP wants these positions to be split evenly between men and women, starting with the day Burnham takes office. The group is also calling for a female deputy prime minister and a dedicated first minister of state for women.
“Explains the demand for 50:50 gender split in Labour government and its implications for UK politics.”
The issue is not new. Labour has never had an elected female leader, whereas the Conservative Party has had three female prime ministers and is currently led by Kemi Badenoch. Under the outgoing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, female MPs complained of a "boys' club" culture in Westminster, which they said contributed to scandals, structural misogyny, bullying, and a blind eye being turned to reports of sexual harassment. Starmer appointed two women to share the role of chief of staff after his previous chief of staff departed, partly as a recognition of these concerns.
Now, with Burnham expected to become prime minister, the scrutiny has intensified. He is expected to remove Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the first woman to hold that office, and the top contenders to replace her are mostly men. He also plans to bring back New Labour ally James Purnell as his chief of staff, a position previously shared by two women. There is speculation that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband could become chancellor and that his brother David might return as foreign secretary via a peerage—a possibility one WPLP member described as unacceptable if it means "more Milibands in the great offices of state than women."
For UK readers, this matters because the composition of government affects how decisions are made and whose perspectives are heard. Research and experience show that diverse teams produce better policy and are more representative of the country they serve. The WPLP argues that when women are excluded from decision-making rooms, there are "blind spots in appointment decisions and policy development." The group has produced a 13-point plan that includes zero tolerance for bullying or misogyny from No 10 staff and parliamentarians, better security for female MPs (particularly those from ethnic minorities), and legislation to limit online abuse and deepfakes.
Q: Why does Labour have so few women in top jobs? Labour has never had an elected female leader, and women have often been underrepresented in senior cabinet roles. Female MPs say this is partly due to a "boys' club" culture that sidelines women and turns a blind eye to harassment. The party's leadership has historically been dominated by men.
Q: What is the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party? The WPLP is a group of female Labour MPs that campaigns for gender equality within the party and government. It has previously pressured leaders to appoint more women to senior positions and recently wrote a draft letter to Andy Burnham demanding a 50:50 gender split in his government.
Q: Could Andy Burnham actually commit to a 50:50 cabinet? Burnham has not made any firm promises. He reassured the WPLP in a meeting that he is an ally and said he would sack any staff who undermine women. But attendees noted he gave only "vibes" rather than commitments. Historically, no UK prime minister has achieved a perfectly balanced cabinet.
What happens next depends on Burnham's decisions when he forms his government. The WPLP letter has not yet been sent, but the pressure is mounting. Burnham's response will signal whether he intends to break with past practice or maintain the status quo. With a general election expected soon, the issue of gender balance in government is likely to remain a key political battleground.