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Stella Creasy launches campaign to get more mothers into politics

mothers

Stella Creasy launches campaign to get more mothers into politics

Labour’s Stella Creasy is launching a project to fund mothers who want to get involved in politics, after describing her “heartbreak” at the way the party has responded to her calls for proper maternity cover for MPs.

Creasy, who gave birth to her second child four weeks ago, said many in the Labour movement were frustrated at the way women of childbearing age are treated in politics.

She is launching a campaign called VoteMama UK to help support parents in politics, modelled on the VoteMama movement in the US.

The MP for Walthamstow in London has been engaged in a battle with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to get a locum paid near to her own salary rate to cover her constituency casework. The law prevents a locum from being able to cover the parliamentary work of MPs on parental leave.

Creasy said she did not feel sufficiently supported by Labour, including other women in her party, in her campaign for maternity rights for MPs, which she believes would encourage more women of childbearing age to enter politics.

“I have been heartbroken by the way in which my party has responded to calls for maternity cover for MPs, and sadly from talking to many in our movement I am not alone in feeling frustrated,” she said.

“It’s not rocket science why so few women of childbearing age go into politics or stay in it. That isn’t going to change unless we act to tackle the deterrents to running that start before you even stand for office as well as those which persist long after.”

She said Labour needed to “admit it has a blindspot when it comes to mums” and called on it to “be the first political party here in the UK to learn from the approach taken by our American counterparts and the success of VoteMama in breaking down barriers for parents to politics”.

The VoteMama UK campaign aims to help fund and mentor new parents who want to get into politics.

The American version of the campaign has endorsed, funded and mentored nearly 250 mums running at levels ranging from school board to Senate. It provides direct contributions to the campaigns of supported candidates and has campaigned to pass legislation at the state level to expand a Federal Election Commission ruling that all state and local candidates should be able to use their campaign funds for childcare.

Creasy said it was not illegal in the UK to use campaign funds to fund childcare but she was not aware of anyone who had done this. She said if there was enough interest in VoteMama UK then the group would directly fund candidates, helping them to cover the cost of childcare. She said it would also support changing the way selections are run to make it easier for parents to participate.

In an interview with the Guardian’s Saturday magazine, Creasy spoke about her frustration with her battle for maternity cover. “I know that some have suggested that this is ‘golden skirt feminism’ – an elite asking for special privileges – but actually for me it’s about the message that we send, that our politics should be open to everybody at all stages of their lives from whatever background,” she said.

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News

APC hails arrest of Ex-Delta Gov, Okowa by EFCC

The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has welcomed the recent arrest of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, describing it as a step in the right direction in the fight against corruption in the country.

The APC, in a statement issued shortly after the news broke, emphasized that Okowa’s arrest signals a strong commitment by the current administration to address long-standing issues of financial mismanagement and corruption at both the state and national levels.

Okowa, who served as the Governor of Delta State from 2015 to 2023, was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds during his tenure.

The charges reportedly relate to a series of financial dealings involving state funds and other questionable contracts awarded during his administration.

In the statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Valentine Onojeghuo Esq., and made available to newsmen in the state capital, Asaba, the Delta APC commended the Federal Government for its decisive action and urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to continue its thorough investigation into the financial activities of other past state governors and public officials.

The party emphasized that this move reflects a larger national agenda to clamp down on corruption, promote transparency, and ensure that public funds are used for the benefit of ordinary citizens rather than for personal enrichment.

“We in the APC wholeheartedly welcome the news of the arrest of the former governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who presided over one of the worst cases of financial recklessness and mismanagement on a monumental scale during his eight-year administration.

“His corrupt practices saw the diversion of humongous state funds for personal enrichment, establishing a bank, and financing his doomed presidential ambition, as well as the manipulative imposition of his puppet godson as governor against the wishes of the people of Delta State who desperately wanted change.”

The APC noted that the arrest serves as a warning to all public office holders, stressing that the era of impunity is over. “No one, regardless of their position or political affiliation, is above the law,” the statement read.

“The fight against corruption must be unwavering and thorough, and we are glad to see the administration taking bold steps in this direction.”

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International

Queen Camilla cancels public engagements due to Chest Infection

Britain’s Queen Camilla has canceled several planned engagements this week due to a chest infection, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday, November 5.

The 77-year-old Queen has been advised by doctors to rest at home but remains hopeful that she will be able to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events, the Palace said.

“Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest,” read the official Palace statement.

“With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week, but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal.”

As a result of her illness, Queen Camilla will miss the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday, where she has regularly represented the royal family in recent years.

In her absence, the Duchess of Gloucester would represent the Queen. This event, held outside Westminster Abbey, invites people to place memorials in honor of service members who have lost their lives.

Queen Camilla will also not attend a reception at Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening, which King Charles will host for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

The Queen and the King recently returned to the United Kingdom after an overseas tour to Australia and Samoa, which included a stopover in India.

Their travels may have contributed to the minor illness, described as “a relatively minor bug,” according to Palace insiders, and there is “no cause for alarm.”

The Queen is expected to recover in time for the weekend’s Remembrance commemorations, which include the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday and the national service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday morning.

In addition to her royal duties, Queen Camilla recently contributed to a documentary raising awareness about domestic violence, which is scheduled to be broadcast next week.

Meanwhile, King Charles, who received a cancer diagnosis in February, had his treatment temporarily paused during their overseas tour but is expected to resume treatment now that they have returned to the UK.

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Education

New Minister for Education reverses 18 years University entry policy

The 18 years entry age for university admission has been reversed by the newly appointed Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa.

The 18 years entry policy initiated by Professor Tahir Mamman, former Minister of Education, had generated controversy.

Addressing journalists upon assumption of office on Tuesday, Alausa said the policy was detrimental to the Federal Government.

Alausa said the reversal of the policy was aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

He said the policy is also not sustainable for the education sector, explaining that the 16-year-age limit would be maintained and exceptions would be granted for “gifted children”.

The new minister added that going forward, Nigeria’s education system will be 80 percent practical and 20 percent classroom/theoretical.

Alausa said practical education will help to curb the unemployment situation in Nigeria as tertiary institutions will not continue churning out graduates on a yearly basis without jobs for Nigerians.

He said the Federal Government will work with private sector operators for the training of students to unleash their potentials.

Alausa was among the 10 ministers who got new portfolios after last month’s cabinet reshuffle which led to the exit of his predecessor.

He was formerly Minister of State for Health.

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