Girly politics
Even though I'm more likely to win the Booker Prize and get my grubby hands on Kate Moss's modelling contracts than vote Tory, I was nevertheless heartened to hear that Scottish Conservatives' new leader is a woman.
I got to thinking that the spirit of the party north of the border might well be more enlightened than that shown by, say, I don't know, Call Me Dave Cameron and his tittering responses to women at PMQs.
Former journalist Ruth Davidson beat the Scottish Conservatives' deputy leader Murdo Fraser to win the top gig, and understandably enough was keen at the press conference following her victory this week to set out her stall and assert independence from CMD.
After all, it needs to be made clear to CMD by this authoritative, intelligent, determined individual exactly who's boss up there. He's not my boss but my colleague, said Davidson firmly. No doubt everyone nodded enthusiastically at this point. Good stuff so far.
Then she continued "But if he needs a quiet tap on the shoulder, then I'm just the girl to do it."
I'm just the girl to do it?
Girl? GIRL?
I started to worry for Scottish Conservatives then. If a pre-pubescent somehow wheedled her way into the elections there'll be hell to pay.
Children grow up so quickly these days, don't they?
Or worse still, it struck me with horror- had someone taken advantage of child and forced the poor little poppet into the dirty beast that is political life years before her time?
Breathe easy comrades; as it turns out, Ruth Davidson is 32 years of age (the press have repeated this often enough, it's obviously an important number for them).
It mortifies me that a grown woman would describe herself in such a way in her professional and public life. Of course it's up to her how she conducts her career (and don't get me wrong; if the Tories fall flat on their faces anytime soon I'll be hosting a helluva party and you're all invited) but even now in 21st Century, when women politicians receive advice on how to calm down dear and are forced to hear cracks about their frustrations - sexual, of course - at PMQs by Davidson's English "colleague", such an approach is a bit crap, basically.
Infantilising oneself and one's female colleagues is not the way to send a message to CMD and his Etonian buddies that such behaviour is a no-no. It needs to be explained to CMD why he has a problem with women and vice versa.
Much like a child, CMD needs consistency. Or else he just won't learn.
A girl tapping him on the shoulder - quietly or otherwise - is not likely to work.
A woman telling him what's what has more of a chance.
Cath Bore is a writer of prose, and script for stage and screen. She is currently completing her debut (crime) novel The Missing Link, based in Liverpool featuring DS Constance Ward. On Tuesdays she joins Mick Coyle on City Talk 105.9 at 7.20am, then chats to Roy Basnett on Wire FM at 7.45am.
You can follow her on Twitter @cathbore, read her own blog LIVERPOOL WRITER ABOUT TOWN HERE or visit her website HERE
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