Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman has sparked a political clash by labeling Kemi Badenoch "woke" for promoting Claire Coutinho to shadow business secretary during her maternity leave. Coutinho and other Conservative figures have dismissed the criticism, arguing the appointment was based on professional merit rather than political signaling.
Harriet Harman's 'Woke Badge' for Kemi Badenoch
During an appearance on Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Harriet Harman suggested that Kemi Badenoch was acting in a "woke" manner by elevating Claire Coutinho to a senior role while the latter is on maternity leave. According to the report, Harman stated she would award Mrs. Badenoch a "Woke Badge" for the move, expressing surprise that such a progressive approach was being adopted within the Conservative Party.
The exchange highlighted a sharp ideological divide over how leadership roles should be handled during family leave. While Harman viewed the promotion as an ideological statement, the Conservative leadership framed it as a standard recognition of talent, regardless of a candidate's current parental status .
Claire Coutinho's merit-based defense of her shadow business role
Claire Coutinho, who is 41 and expecting her second child, responded to the criticism via X, arguing that the left-wing perspective fails to believe a pregnant woman can be appointed based on merit. as reported, Coutinho asserted that while she may be "growing some feet and eyeballs," her cognitive abilities remain intact, and she expressed pride in a party that does not define women by their maternity status.
This defense was echoed by Joy Morrissey, the shadow women and equalities secretary, who described Coutinho as a "brilliant choice" with significant business experience. Morrissey further mocked the Labour Party, suggesting that for them, the mere act of promoting a pregnant woman would be viewed as a major achievement.
The reshuffle of Andrew Griffith and Andrew Bowie
The promotion of Claire Coutinho is part of a broader restructuring of the shadow cabinet under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch. According to the report, Coutinho takes over the shadow business secretary role from Andrew Griffith, who has moved into the position of shadow Chancellor. To fill the gap left by Coutinho's maternity leave, Julia Lopez will cover the business portfolio until January.
Additionally, Andrew Bowie, the former shadow Scotland secretary, has been appointed as the new shadow energy secretary to succeed Coutinho. These moves signal Kemi Badenoch's effort to solidify her leadership team and redistribute key portfolios as the party prepares for future electoral challenges.
Reform UK's drop to 22 per cent in More in Common polling
Parallel to this internal political row , new data from a More in Common survey indicates a shift in the national polling landscape. The poll shows that Reform UK has fallen to third place for the first time since January of last year, dropping to 22 per cent support—its lowest level in 18 months. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party under Kemi Badenoch climbed to 23 per cent, gaining one point.
The Labour Party remains in the lead at 26 per cent, though this represents a slight one-point dip, suggesting a potential stalling of the "Burnham bounce." Other parties in the survey include the Liberal Democrats at 11 per cent, the Green Party at 9 per cent, and Rupert Lowe MP's Restore Britain party at 4 per cent.
The missing Labour Party response to the 'merit' debate
While the report details the views of Harriet Harman and the robust responses from the Conservative Party, it remains unclear if the current Labour leadership officially shares Harman's view that promoting a woman on maternity leave is a "woke" act. there is no formal statement from the Labour Party's central office provided in the source to clarify if this is a personal opinion of a former deputy leader or a reflection of current party policy regarding meritocracy and maternity.
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