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EU debate dominated by white, male Tories with women ‘pushed out’, says Harriet Harman

Labour’s former Deputy Leader writes to Ofcom urging broadcasters to give more airtime to female voices

Harriet Harman EU

WOMEN are being "pushed out" of the EU debate and broadcasters need to give more airtime to female voices, says Harriet Harman.

Labour’s former Deputy Leader said the argument over Britain's future membership was "too important to be left to men".

Harriet Harman EU
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Harriet Harman says more airtime needs to be given to female voices

She has written to Ofcom calling for action from the regulator to ensure a better balance, as so far male politicians outnumbered female counterparts by nearly five to one on BBC Radio 4's flagship Today programme.

Six men have appeared to every to one woman on BBC Breakfast, and three to one on ITV's Good Morning Britain, says Ms Harman.

She will be one of several prominent Labour women holding a press conference today to highlight the issue.

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Labour's former Deputy Leader says women are being "pushed out"

In her letter to Ofcom chief executive Sharon White, the ex-Cabinet Minister cited research by Loughborough University which found only 16% of TV appearances on EU issues had been by women.

Referring to Boris Johnson, David Cameron and George Osborne, she said: "No woman makes the top 10 of voices heard on EU issues.

“Indeed, the top three voices are three white, male, Tories.

"It fails to reflect the breadth of voices involved with the campaign and as a consequence, a narrow range issues ends up being discussed, leaving many women feeling shut out of the national debate.”

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Even Labour's own remain campaign is run by a man - Alan Johnson

She added: "The referendum campaign is too important to be left to men.

"It is absolutely vital that, before making their decision on the 23rd of June, voters have been able to hear a broad spectrum of views covering all the issues that matter to the British people."

The regulator's broadcast code said "an appropriately wide range of significant views must be included and given due weight" in discussions of major political controversy, she pointed out.

The MP for Peckham said: "Furthermore, last year you were quoted as saying diversity was a 'big priority' for Ofcom and that 'collective endeavour' from the media on this was important, too.

"That is why I am urging Ofcom to do what it can amongst broadcasters to help ensure women are properly represented on broadcast media and that serious issues affecting female voters are given adequate media coverage.”

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She said white, male Tories like Boris are dominating the debate

It comes after a report said leaving the EU would turn the clock back on women's rights by "decades", hitting equal pay and protection against pregnancy discrimination.

The TUC said Brussels had been instrumental in empowering working women and helping them challenge inequality, citing equal wages for hundreds of thousands of low-paid women, and paid holidays for 1.5 million part-timers.

General secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Brexit risks turning the clock back decades on these hard-won rights.”

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