Starmer urged to appoint woman as first secretary of state to tackle misogyny

Starmer accused of 'stuffing government with hypocrites and paedophile apologists' during Prime Minister's Questions

 Keir Starmer: The prime minister apologised to female Labour parliamentarians for appointing Peter Mandelson as he spoke at a meeting of the women’s Parliamentary Labour Party. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Keir Starmer has been urged to bring back the post of first secretary of state and appoint a woman to the role as he addressed female Labour MPs on Wednesday.

Labour's Harriet Harman suggested he revive the post, which functions as a de facto deputy prime minister, and task the appointee with tackling misogyny and the marginalisation of women.