New roles for Harman and Brown face criticism
SIR KEIR STARMER’S decision to hire Baroness Harman as his new adviser on violence against women and girls has drawn criticism for her work for a rights group linked to paedophile campaigners.
Sir Keir announced the former Labour deputy leader’s appointment yesterday morning, alongside that of Gordon Brown, the former PM, who has been made global finance envoy.
However, Lord Kempsell, the Conservative peer, questioned whether Lady Harman was the right choice. He wrote on X: “Sorry Sir Keir, I don’t think this person should be in charge of combating violence against women and girls?”
The National Council for Civil Liberties, for whom Lady Harman worked as legal officer from 1978 to 1982, granted “affiliate” status to the Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) in 1975.
Lady Harman has acknowledged “regret” that the civil liberties group had links to pro-paedophile activists.
In 2014, she said: “I very much regret that this vile organisation, PIE, ever existed and that it ever had anything to do with NCCL, but it did not affect my work at NCCL.”
She added: “They [PIE] had been pushed to the margins before I actually went to NCCL, and to allege that I was involved in collusion with paedophilia or apologising for paedophilia is quite wrong and is a smear.” In a statement announcing her new position, Sir Keir said: “Harriet is a strong advocate for women and girls and I know she will deliver greater opportunity for women in public life.
“I’m committed to tackling structural misogyny that is a barrier for too many women and girls.”
Earlier yesterday, JK Rowling also criticised the appointment, pointing to comments the Labour grandee made in 2022, saying trans women were women.
Ms Rowling suggested Lady Harman was a poor choice for the role, posting that “you cannot defend what you are afraid to define”.
Reacting to the appointment on X, Ms Rowling wrote: “Bravo, Keir Starmer, for getting in an Adviser on Women and Girls who thinks the definition of women and girls includes men and boys. That’ll definitely win back people who believe Labour’s a party for smug, lanyard-wearing, luxurybelief-espousing cultural elitists.”
The twin appointments will be seen as an attempt to unite the warring factions of the party. Mr Brown is a more Left-wing voice, while Lady Harman is seen as a Labour centrist.
Mr Brown has been made a special envoy on global finance after previously holding the office of chancellor. His role includes developing new international finance partnerships that can support defence and security-related investment, including measures that are key to Britain’s relationship with Europe.
Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, said: “Gordon Brown sold the gold and caused a debt crisis. Harriet Harman…doesn’t know what a woman is. Starmer is so bad – but this is nuts even for him.”