‘I AM COMPLETELY UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THE PINK ELECTION BUS’

No one knows more about juggling than Labour’s former acting leader, Harriet Harman. One of the best-known politicians of our time, she campaigned as an MP with her young baby in her arms and has fought for equality throughout her 35-year career. But the title of her newly published memoir, A Woman’s Work, suggests there is much more that needs to be done...

The women’s movement was never really man-hating, but it was depicted as that. I think it was the male backlash that intimidated a lot of women. But the movement got into the hearts of a generation of women who didn’t think they were second best or that they should be treated as second best. Even if they didn’t call themselves feminists, they were part of that generation that brought the women’s movement forward.

It is difficult for women to be equal at work if they are not equal at home. Many men are still worried they will be considered uncommitted to their job if they have to leave work for a sick child. They have to make that fight. Women have been fighting on our own behalf and now we have to fight on men’s behalf as well? They should do it themselves.

As an MP with three young children, I had two conflicting vocations. One was to be in politics to change things for the better, the other was to have a family – and those were often quite difficult to reconcile. I felt I was doing neither properly – everything was by the skin of my teeth.

Feminism is still about not putting up with unfairness. There is still a problem with unequal pay, and there is still a problem with women being held back at work. Men are still making most of the decisions. Although we have come a long way, there is a way to go.

If you are fighting for change, it is never easy. I am completely unapologetic about the pink bus we used to attract women voters in the 2015 General Election. There is nothing condescending about listening to women and urging them to vote. These criticisms have come over the years. You just have to not be deflected. I thought the pink bus was great.