This piece appeared in Next Left on Friday, 10th February 2012:
This is a guest post by Vera Baird. Vera is a member of the Fabian Society Executive Committee and Chair of the new Labour Commission on Women’s Safety, commissioned by shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper.
Yvette Cooper described this Government, whose first budget took 70% of its cuts from women and 30% from men, as having “a blind spot” about women. She seems to be right when one considers, not only economics, but also plans such as the deletion of
continue reading Checking the blind spot – Examining violence against women
Feb 1st 2012 The Culture, Practice and Ethics of the Press is the title of the Leveson Inquiry, set up to deal with the phone hacking scandal. So let us turn away from press restraint, oppressive laws, the persecution of journalists in the Commonwealth, on which you so proudly campaign, and consider the ethical issues confronting the profession in the UK, how this Inquiry came about, the issues it faces and the impact that may have on your work. In brief summary, in January 2007, the News of the World Royal reporter, Clive Goodman
continue reading Address to Commonwealth Journalists’ Association Conference, Malta 2012
Vera is pleased to have been asked to speak at the CJA annual conference in Malta next Tuesday about the Leveson Inquiry. Watch this space her for her address
A local report of Vera’s role in the Women’s Safety Commission seems to be spooking Lib Dem Minister for Women Lynne Featherstone! Read the article in the Tottenham Journal here.
Read Vera’s article intended for the Guardian ‘Comment is Free’ section. (they published an early draft instead of the final version that appears here):
Parliament made clear three years ago that sexual infidelity should not be allowed as a defence for murder, whatever the circumstances. A partner’s affair could no longer be treated by Courts as a defensible reason to lose self control and kill.
However, giving judgment, in three domestic murder appeals last week, Lord Chief Justice
continue reading The Infidelity defence to murder
Vera has been calling for the release of Burmese political prisoner Khun Dee De for two years, during an Amnesty International campaign in which each campaigner focussed on an individual prisoner. She was pleased to hear from Amnesty International that he is one of the political prisoners freed under the regime’s new direction. Amnesty International issued a press release which Vera fully endorses:
Amnesty Press Release Burma: Political prisoner release ‘major step’ but gates must open ‘even wider’
Posted: 13 January 2012
The release of at least 130 political prisoners in Burma
continue reading Amnesty photo action – Khun Dee De released
Vera and Kate Green MP replied to an article in last week’s Observer alleging that some women Tory MPs might be concerned about the Coalition’s impact on women.
Here is the text of the letter, which appeared in the publication on 15th January 2012:
Tory ‘sisterhood’? What a joke
Conservative women’s proclaimed support for equality (“The new blue sisterhood“, Review) fails to convince when their own government’s track record is examined.
Female unemployment is at a 23-year high as a result of government policies, while cuts to
continue reading Tory ‘sisterhood’? What a joke
Vera was delighted to speak at Fabians New Year Conference 14th January 2012 In the morning breakout group: Women The Crisis and Politics Vera shared a platform with Polly Toynbee, Seema Malhotra MP and David Coats, Research Fellow of the Smith Institute. “The first point I wish to make is that we discuss the financial crisis every day and when we do so we should always have in our minds that all economics is gendered. I am grateful to Professor Sylvia Walby who has done considerable work on this topic So, for example when there is a tax rise,
continue reading Vera’s speech at the Fabians New Year Conference 2012
Vera spoke at the AAFDA Annual Conference in January 2012. View some local press coverage.
The Labour Commission on Women’s Safety began gathering evidence just before Christmas. My colleagues, MPs Kate Green, Stella Creasy and I, met in London with twelve leading national women’s organisations to scope out what our inquiry needs to cover.
The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has asked us to produce a provisional report by International Women’s Day in March about whether, and if so how, coalition decisions, policies and legislation are impacting on women’s safety.
Read the rest of Vera’s piece in Left Foot Forward.
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Vera Baird - click for bio.
Vera was MP for Redcar from 2001-2010. She is now the Women's Officer of Hornsey&Wood Green Labour, Chair of Crouch End Branch and of Haringey Borough Campaign Cttee
Vera has been unanimously elected Chair of the Eaves/Poppy Project.
Vera is on the Fabian Society Executive
Vera is a Member of the Justice Council
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