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Harriet Harman has postponed a major review of rape support policy in a bid to toughen the law.
In an 11th-hour move, she called off an announcement that had been due to be made this morning to overhaul the way victims are treated after they go to police.
Ms Harman, who is standing in for Gordon Brown while he is on holiday, pushed for the review to be significantly widened to include an inquiry into why conviction rates are so low.
Her demand alarmed officials in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice who insisted they could not commission such a major step without more time to prepare. It is understood that they also wanted the political involvement from Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who are away on holiday.
News of the screeching halt to an announcement that had already been written into the Downing Street "grid" of events for the week while Ms Harman is in charge led to suggestions she had become embroiled in a stand-up row with the other departments.
Some officials apparently accused her of "political grandstanding" to curry favour among women Labour activists. It is probable they anticipated that Mr Johnson and Mr Straw would want to debate the review thoroughly with Ms Harman before giving their backing to such a fundamental policy overhaul.
Sources said claims of in-fighting were overblown but confirmed that Ms Harman had thrown the announcement into confusion at the last minute.
One source said: "Harriet Harman had legitimate concerns and they had to be heeded because she is, after all, acting as Prime Minister while Gordon Brown is away. It is a bit of a pain that everything had seemed done and dusted but she was entitled to express her concerns. These matters need to be discussed between ministers."
A spokesman for Ms Harman's equalities unit said: "We are going to have this review. There is not a row but we have not quite pinned down the details."
The confusion overshadowed an announcement of £3million in extra support for rape victims today.
Relations between Ms Harman and her senior colleagues can be testy because of rivalries over the future leadership of the Labour Party.
She beat Mr Johnson to the deputy leader's post in 2007. Mr Johnson is favourite to take over if Mr Brown is ousted before the election, expected in May.
Reader views (9)
Its about time victims of rape (men and women) can i add, felt like they would be taken seriously when reporting the crime has taken place. as it stands the police are not able to deal with victim support and they are very quick to judge a situation before looking at the evidence leaving the victim feeling dirty and in the wrong. Something has to be done but maybe she should talk to some victims of rape and then come up with a strategy.
- Kay, London
every day yet another piece of foot and mouth from our 'acting leader'.
when the cats away the mice will play, although in this case it's quite the reverse (as the mouse is away and the cat is indeed at malicious play).
pressa acted the fool when he had the same opportunity and now hattie is at it.
never have so many been ruled by so few with little apptitude, skill, tact, diplomacy, scruples, or intellect.
we've already had a former home secretary and a present defence secretary owning up they they are not really up to the job and bleating on about class discrimination and other self perceived obstacles to their apptitude and intellect as ministers.
there are those from such backgrounds who truely have apptitude and intellect but are rarely promoted to ministerial rank, but don't moan about it. the likes of Dennis Skinner spring to mind.
in the seedy melting pot of westminister the best on offer rarely rise beyond the pastry.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
Yes Manon she is right in that conviction rates should be looked at, where she is wrong, so very wrong, is that the current report on how victims are treated should be held up because of it. The two issues are related, but why should improvements to how victims are treated not start now? Why wait for another year while she gets the "big" picture? If this is a ploy to get women activists on her side, perhaps those women should understand her grandstanding will potentially harm rape victims in the short term.
- Ian, london
Hard person is to Labour what Suet is to Weight Watchers. After years of weakening Justice in the UK Labour wants to toughen a law and people thinks she is serious? Play to labour strengths Hard persons ahh
Labour is all mouth but no action. Remember this comment from labour history tough on the causes of crime.... but weak on action, the problem is clear Labour PC policy
- Gary, Brentwood
Conviction rates are low because in the absence of corroborating evidence, it is one person's word against another, and the requirement is for a jury to be convinced "beyond reasonable doubt". That's a high hurdle, but a necessary one.
Any suggestions must bear this in mind. Certainly, make sure that the victim is treated sympathetically and given as much support as possible. But the law must not be changed to make it easier to wrongly convict the innocent.
I might support re-introduction of the old Scottish "not proven" verdict throughout the UK. (for all crimes, not just rape). "We think he's guilty but we aren't convinced beyond reasonable doubt" might be some consolation to victims, compared to a plain "not guilty".
- Nigel, London
She's quite right: an overhaul of the way victims are treated is not nearly enough: there needs to be a nationwide enquiry into why conviction rates are so low.
- Manon, London
The reason for the delay is that she was reported yesterday as "not taking no for an answer" and this posed some obvious spin problems if associated with the introduction of new anti-rape policies, so some time was necessary to separate the two sides of this enigma that is our acting PM.
- Bloke, London
This lady is for turning - turning over!
Its frightening to think that she is in charge of the country, God help us all, including the Women.
An absolute crack pot.
- George, Bexletheath
Quick men, head for the hills. This Harriet has already said we men can't run a business, and after debating a policy with her male cabinet partners prior to release, now says she has concerns. (We got it wrong again). It would also appear that she has now decided that a lot more of us are guilty of rape, even though we are not convicted. This goes against women, as she has now postponed the implementation of 'a major review of rape support policy in a bid to toughen the law'. Where will she stop?
- Alan, carlisle uk
