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Harriet Harman has confessed that some men find her difficult to deal with because she won't take No for an answer.
Labour's deputy leader, who has demanded higher status for women in City boardrooms and in political leadership, admitted that her attitude made some men uncomfortable.
"Well, I do think that I want to see change for the better - and change is sometimes difficult for people if they don't want to see change," she said in an interview with the Standard.
Asked which of her traits were disliked by men, she said: "Perhaps not taking No for an answer."
Ms Harman seemed hurt, however, by the nickname Hattie Harperson invented by enemies to lampoon her feminism. "I think most politicians have got plenty of nicknames that change over time," she said after a pause. "I'm not bothered, really, about nicknames. There's nothing I can do about it."
Ms Harman, widely tipped as a frontrunner in the next Labour leadership contest, spoke as she settled in as stand-in for Gordon Brown, who is holidaying in Scotland and the Lake District.
"Gordon is in charge," she said firmly. "I am co-ordinating the team." That involves daily briefings at No 10 on subjects ranging from the day's headlines to top-secret security matters.
She did not deny that the Prime Minister has a tendency to call in from his holidays to dish out instructions. "I'd better not go down this path, erm, and I don't want to give a running commentary. But actually there's a very effective team and I know Gordon has full confidence in it."
What about the stories of Mr Brown ringing in each morning at 5am? "I think that's slightly overplayed," she replied. Only slightly.
With the Prime Minister out of the way, she has mapped a grid of daily government announcements that she will be co-ordinating or making herself over the next few days. Today she goes to Dagenham to share out a £10 million pot for Inspiring Communities projects to help the poorest youngsters get a leg up. Tomorrow, she will announce new moves to reform the laws on rape.
It is no wonder that everyone at Westminster thinks she is preparing a leadership bandwagon to be wheeled out when Gordon Brown retires. "My focus is what we are doing in government now," answers Ms Harman, coolly, insisting that she was focused on beating the economic slump and hauling Labour out of the political hole caused by the expenses scandal.
She was keen to talk about the banks - particularly to take further the Government's warning about bonuses.
Her point is that banks such as Barclays and HSBC that did not accept a taxpayer-funded direct bailout cannot now argue that they are exempt from strictures about sky-high bonuses and the need for lending to be restarted.
"Make no mistake, we've got an interest not just in those banks we recapitalised, but in the whole of the banking system," she warned.
"We stood behind the whole of the banking system and therefore we are expecting responsibility from them, in their lending arrangements and in their remuneration. A return to profit should be an opportunity for more lending, not a return to big bonuses."
She is much less keen to talk about stories of her clashing with male colleagues, among them former deputy leader John Prescott, who has criticised her on his blog. "I haven't seen his blog," she said. To suggestions that Lord Mandelson, another rival, could return to the Commons to compete for the leadership, Ms Harman responded by praising him as an ally of businessmen. "They have a figure whom they know is at the heart of government, speaking out for business. I strongly support the work he is doing."
Some MPs will see her words as a subtle knifing of the First Secretary, although she denied that was her intention. Many Labour activists are suspicious of big business and her own plans to extend rights for new mothers were reportedly axed by Lord Mandelson on the grounds they would heap costs on firms.
However, she suggested instead that the Cabinet needed champions of both business and the poor. "We've all got a common purpose in the Cabinet, to ensure we sustain as many businesses as possible, protect as many jobs as we can and help people if they become unemployed," she said. "It's all the same issue really."
Shadow Treasury minister Philip Hammond today criticised Ms Harman's suggestion that male dominance in the banking sector could have contributed to the financial crisis. He accused her of wasting time by making scapegoats of male bankers, adding: "There are legitimate areas of debate over the causes of the banking crisis but it's obvious this isn't one of them."
Reader views (12)
She is just thick !!!
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 04/08/2009 16:38
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In her case I suspect a lot of men would take 'no' for an answer . . .
- Roz, France, 04/08/2009 16:30
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".....because she won't take No for an answer."
...even when 'no' IS the correct answer.
- Rogan, Irving, 04/08/2009 15:50
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This female is basically mad and should be sectioned under the mental health act.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 04/08/2009 15:05
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by all means don't take NO for an answer ,but what part of NO does she not understand we are all fed up with not seeing a strong hand of government spelling out to bankers NO means just that over bonus payments which is OUR money in the first place,i give a bonus to a road sweeper every time i see him a pound since he is the guy who picks up and sorts all the garbage he EARNS it!!
- C.Mcd, bristol, 04/08/2009 14:55
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Harridan Harpy is the daughter of special privilege, something that she would deny to the rest of us given half a chance. She is a champion of politically-correct discrimination that gives special status to certain groups, which are also arranged into a hierarchy. At the very bottom are white heterosexual middle-class males.
That same group makes up a large proportion of the bankers against whom she rails in this article. Is it really any wonder that they have responded in kind?
NuLiebour, of which she is a founding memeber, has placed Britian at the top of the league of bad debtors. Gormless McClown, The Glorious Leader, has riuned the fiances of this country and sent thousands of businesses to the wall. Under their stewardship more manufacturing jobs have been lost than were during the biting recession of the 90s. Yes, that's right folks, NuLiebour have put more people out of work than their greatest hate-figure, Margaret Thatcher. Something that the looney lefties have found to be an unpalatable truth. In the destruction of Britain, McClown has been aided and abetted by those close to him and that includes Batty Hattie. Why on Earth would anyone want to listen to fiancial or business advice from any of them?
Harpy and the rest of the looney left have had their chance and have demonstrated why they must never be allowed near the levers of power again. Their inevitable demise cannot come soon enough.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 04/08/2009 13:50
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she looks like harriet jones off doctor who, do you think she will be as bad lol
- Tvsmithy, Bolton, UK, 04/08/2009 13:18
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To quote Lawrence - 'One of the best things about NuLab losing the next election is the silly crew with brainless soundbites will disappear from the 'news'.
Unfortunately, the expected new crew are already making as many brainless soundbites, so don't hold your breath.
- Keith Grey, islington, UK, 04/08/2009 13:12
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A serious woman for serious times? I don't think so. Hazel Bleary, Yakky Smith, Harriet Harpic? No wonder we're in a mess.
- Derek Holmes, Carmarthen Wales, 04/08/2009 12:16
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Bring back Maggie!!
- C Cusano, Bedford, 04/08/2009 11:24
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Ms. Harperson it's not your unwillingness to take no for an answer which exasperates people it's your inability to even consider the possibility that you are wrong. A trait you share with your 'current' boss!
- Mark, London, 04/08/2009 11:17
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Someone should tell Harperson - no means no. One of the best things about NuLab losing the next election is the silly crew with brainless soundbites will disappear from the 'news' - I can't wait.
- Lawrence John, Bucks, 04/08/2009 10:38
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