Harlow Labour councillor (on her final appearance) slams Tory leader for “mansplaining” over lack of female participation
General / Mon 4th Apr 2022 at 08:07am
A HARLOW councillor, making her final appearance in the chamber, slammed the leader of the council for “mansplaining” to her regarding the lack of female representation in the council chamber.
Bush Fair ward councillor, Eugenie Harvey (Lab) spoke at a recent Cabinet meeting.
The meeting started at 7.30pm and ended near to 10.30pm.
At just after 10pm, in the middle of an item on community engagement, cllr Harvey explained that she was going to have to leave as she had to relieve her babysitter.
Cllr Harvey commented that it was examples of three hour council meetings, at night, that may be one of the reasons that there are so few female councillors (at present there are six out of 33).
Harlow Council leader, cllr Russell Perrin (Cons) then spent a few minutes agreeing with cllr Harvey and setting out the council’s view on the matter.
Cllr Harvey replied “You could have just said, I hear you”.
Cllr Harvey then left the chamber.
A week later, Harlow Labour leader Chris Vince asked the Conservative leader, whether he would reflect on his actions?
The film of all exchanges is below.
Nicholas Taylor
2022-04-04 09:06:40
Although no fan of Labour of course, it is a sad day when a hardworking Councillor like Eugenie calls it a day. There are of course many reasons why so few people put themselves forward to become a Councillor, one of them is having to read an agenda which is 615 pages long as was the case of the meeting referred to here. I am afraid that some Councillors like to hear the sound of their own voice so meetings take much longer than they need to and reports being produced are longer than they need be. Cllr Perrin's response was just a small example of the former.
Marie Compton
2022-04-04 11:17:57
Sounds like Cllr Eugenie had a simulated tantrum for effect. Cllr Perrin’s remarks were perfectly civil and in no way hostile to women or any other group. All Councillors make sacrifices to their family lives. The Conservative group is more diverse than Labour’s. This seems like nothing more than woke grandstanding. Surprised it even made the news in YH. The supreme being that Labour’s leader Keir Starmer is unable to even define what a female is! All this “I am offended” nonsense is a distraction for Labour’s complete lack of any viable policies and a sinister attempt to curtail free speech.
Sarah Jarvis
2022-04-04 13:52:36
Councillor Perrin was not supporting Councillor Harvey at all there by stating that as a man he had to find childcare as well. That may be true, he could be the sole carer of his children and honestly have to source childcare to attend this meeting. However, if that were the case, he would realise how hard that actually is, at that time of night, during the week, and surely would be more sympathetic? Councillor Perrin is of the "Not all men" gang and using the situation for his own political ends. I agree, this is a good example of mansplaining! Rather unpleasant given the topic of the meeting but highlights how much the Tories can be trusted on issues relating to fairness and equality.
Connie
2022-04-04 15:50:18
Sarah Jarvis, I consider Cllr Perrin to be thoroughly decent and fair. He is a clear proponent of meritocracy and show complete equanimity regarding gender, race, ethnicity, disability, etc. I think the criticism levelled against him on this occasion was totally unjust. Your generalisations are equally ill-conceived. The scourge of wokeism needs to be reversed. It is highly pernicious and stifles sensible free debate. I am a hard-working professional woman and a mother who understands the issues raised by the Councillor, but I would never make such an undignified display. People freely choose to stand for office. It is unbecoming to make such a fuss and unwarranted outburst.
Chris Vince
2022-04-04 15:54:03
To the person behind 'Marie Compton' can I suggest that if there is ever a time for a fake account to be used, this is certainly not it!
Marie Compton
2022-04-04 16:35:33
Mr Vince, I am a Harlow resident since the 1960’s. Why do Labour councillors accuse any legitimate criticism as ‘fake’ or ‘ Tory spin doctors’? You seem to have been listening too much to Donald Trump and Labour’s Peter Mandelson. You should understand that there are many, many people who are not impressed with Labour’s abject failures in administration over the past decade. That might well explain why the town has consistently elected Rob Halfon as its MP since 2010 and elected a Tory council last year. Is that fact or fake? Maybe you can no longer tell the difference, Mr Vince.
Chris Vince
2022-04-04 16:52:28
Yeah okay 'Marie'
Chris Vince
2022-04-04 16:55:37
This would be why.... https://www.yourharlow.com/2022/03/23/comment-is-free-but-dont-abuse-the-privilege/
Tony Durcan
2022-04-04 18:31:40
It was a very disappointing meeting and on this occasion badly managed. It was clear the councillor was making a constructive point which was completely wiped out by the chair trying to justify something. Regardless of politics the council has a duty of care to all and this was sadly lacking. I sincerely hope the Tory spin Doctor can accept this was a honest open constructive concern and we should all reflect and manage the process,agenda and attitude in a more mature manner. We need more Eugenie Harveys in the council chamber but this meeting may not inspire others to take on the unique opportunity.
Jamie Henderson
2022-04-04 23:45:39
Roll on the May local elections. Let’s get rid of these woke pretenders. Harlow deserves better than these self-righteous showmen, whinging at every opportunity because their Labour administration was a disaster for the town. The new administration is focusing on what residents care about. I met the Conservative candidate for Little Parndon & Hare Street: a young woman, with children, running her own business through all the adversity of Covid. She is a breath of fresh air and somebody who can relate to the real issues unlike the stale, resentful, outdated Labour saga. We need more women like the Little Parndon Tory candidate, women with drive, who do not whinge at every opportunity to attract attention.
novoman
2022-04-05 15:29:43
No one has spotted that Council meetings at 10 pm at night are ridiculous: how can Cllrs of any gender function effectively or be held to account by the presence of the public. Over run meetings are a symptom of poor management. No wonder we get let down by our Cllrs and poor decisions like the Monster warehouse that Cllrs couldn't see coming.
Mark Robert Edward Gough
2022-04-06 11:50:59
I was a Councillor from 2000-4 and 2008-12. These issues have been exactly the same for years. All administrations of all colours could do something about this. Why don't they get a cross party working group together and look at it properly. Cllr.Harvey was a portfolio holder and deputy leader of the last Labour administration and did nothing about it! Now she's leaving she's making it a political issue and a gender issue. It's neither. It's a community issue so Councillors and Officers can do their Jobs probably and to the bitter end of long meetings!
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