Female of the Species
With the Enniskillen council by-election just a few days away, the Ulster Unionists (and other parties) have been critical of Arlene Foster for taking on too many jobs. Why should a minister and an MLA seek another role as a councillor?
All part of the usual political rough and tumble, you may say. But has the former Environment Minister Sam Foster overplayed his hand in a letter to this week's "Fermanagh Herald"? Obviously there is history between the Fosters. But in his letter, the UUP man describes the late DUP Councillor Joe Dodds as "a man's man." He goes on to describe the UUP candidate Basil Johnston as "a single person", and then he continues "Seriously, I have to ask the question: how does Arlene expect to contend with the number of responsible roles she wants to carry and to do each one well, but not to neglect any, e.g. wife, mother, Councillor, MLA, and Minister of a Department?"
Whenever we talk about double jobbing by male MLAs and MPs we don't normally include descriptions such as "husband" or "father" in their CVs. Is it any more acceptable when talking about female politicians, especially when your assembly team is noticeably lacking in that regard?
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