All four leadership candidates commit to 50/50 shadow cabinet gender balance

All four Labour leadership candidates have committed to ensuring they would strike a 50/50 gender balance in the shadow cabinet.

In interviews with Labour Women’s Network representative, Emma Burnell, all four leadership hopefuls – Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall – committed to making sure that under their leadership the shadow cabinet would be made up of an equal number of men and women. The four contenders also pledged their support for all-women shortlists and they signed LWN’s five-point pledge, which includes supporting the institution of a comprehensive policy against sexual harassment in the Labour Party.

When asked whether they were feminists, all four of the candidates confirmed that they were. They also outlined why they think women should vote for them to be leader.  Cooper argued that Labour still have “one more glass ceiling to smash through, to have the first elected woman leader of the Labour party.” While Kendall reiterated her campaign slogan “I’m a fresh start for the Labour party” and stressed that she understands challenges facing people across the country. Burnham emphasised his vision for the party as one “that helps everyone get on in life and provides women across the country with the answers they’re looking for.” And Corbyn argued that he’s in the contest to make clear “the implications of austerity and the damages it’s doing to our society” and propose an “alternative economic and international strategy.”

You can watch all of the interview here.