Sexism storm hits union led by Corbyn pal

One of Comrade Corbyn’s favourite trade unionists is former postman Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union.

The CWU, the first big union to back Corbyn for the Labour leadership, is currently balloting its members about a strike at the Royal Mail.

But what will the Labour sisterhood make of the sexist language being deployed by the union, which has a major exhibition stand at the Labour Party conference as part of its campaign?

Take the document headlined: ‘3 reasons why women need to say Yes.’ It gets worse: ‘ So, Ladies, before you convince yourself that you don’t have the time [to] vote, ask yourself this. Can you afford to take a pay freeze, work harder, longer and cheaper so you can live in pension poverty when you’re old and grey? Women died fighting to give you the vote. Don’t waste yours.’

needless to say the patronising reference to ‘ladies’ and women ‘dying’ for the vote is causing outrage among Labour Party members who regard sexism as a hanging offence.

The controversy comes after John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor whose constituency covers Heathrow airport, was criticised for making remarks about ‘attractive and beautiful air stewardesses’ he met on a picket line.

Is it any wonder that with such antediluvian attitudes, Labour has yet to elect a woman leader.