Conservative Member of Parliament Claire Coutinho has expressed her displeasure following comments by former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, who suggested that promoting Coutinho to a key shadow cabinet role while she is on maternity leave was a "woke" decision. Coutinho stated she was appointed to the position of shadow business secretary on "merit."
Harman, a long-standing advocate for women's rights, reportedly commented on Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast that she would present Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch with a "Woke Badge" for promoting Coutinho, a former shadow energy secretary, while she is on leave. Harman characterized the move as "very woke," adding that she "never thought I'd see the day, especially in the Conservative Party."
Coutinho, 41, who is pregnant with her second child and is on maternity leave until January, responded on social media platform X. She argued that the left's perspective implies a pregnant woman cannot be promoted based on merit but only as a symbol of progressiveness. "I may be growing some feet and eyeballs, but my brain is just fine," Coutinho wrote. "Glad to be a Conservative because we don't define women by their maternity status."
Joy Morrissey, the shadow women and equalities secretary, also criticized Harman's remarks, stating that Coutinho's appointment reflects her "brilliant" qualities and "real business experience," which she contrasted with a perceived lack of such experience within the Labour party. Morrissey suggested that Labour views even the promotion of a pregnant woman as significant in itself.
The presenter of the podcast, former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, also challenged Harman, asserting that women in the Conservative party often succeed and that Harman's criticism seems to be directed at the "wrong type of woman."
Coutinho was appointed shadow business secretary earlier this week, replacing Andrew Griffith, who moved to become shadow chancellor. Coutinho, a former investment banker, has served as the Member of Parliament for East Surrey since 2019 and previously worked for the Conservative Party. Andrew Bowie succeeded Coutinho as shadow energy secretary.