Home Blogs & Views Birmingham Mail Columnists Jon Walker
No sex please, we're British...
SEXIST language is to be banned in the House of Commons after Jack Straw, the Leader of the House, published plans for the word "chairman" to be banished.
Under new rules on "gender-neutral" language, every committee will now have a "chair" instead.
The use of male terms "tends to reinforce historic gender stereotypes", he said.
But former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe, describing Mr Straw as "a silly ass", pointed out that a chair is a piece of furniture, not a person.
Mr Straw made the announcement on International Women's Day, when MPs debated women's issues. Among the contributors was Solihull MP Lorely Burt (Lib Dem), who made a speech liberally praising her "sisters" in the Commons.
When I asked her about this, she assured me that if I felt left out I could consider myself a brother.
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