Calling the chancellor 'Rachel from accounts' is unfair and sexist |
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The Budget has finally arrived, ending the two-child benefit cap (at last) – but what a fractious ride it's been to get here. We had the government delaying Rachel Reeves's announcement by a month (which caused its own economic turbulence), a leak by the OBR moments before the chancellor was due to speak – and accusations of "mansplaining". And it's this third point that I want to pick up in today's newsletter. As we all know, it took until 2024 for a female chancellor to be appointed at all – and Rachel Reeves has spoken before about being constantly underestimated and having to prove herself to those "boys who write newspaper columns". "I'm sick of people mansplaining how to be chancellor to me," she said in a recent interview, adding: "I don't think even I had realised the misogyny that still exists in public life." She is also said to have ticked off a group of local business people on a visit to a remote North Sea gas terminal in Scotland over the summer, telling them to "talk to me with respect – I'm the chancellor of the Exchequer". Right on, Rachel. As far as I'm concerned, she's entirely correct to demand the respect routinely offered to her male contemporaries – many of them far less deserving. But then I read commentary from my esteemed and beloved colleague, our chief political commentator John Rentoul: "I'm one of the 'boys who write newspaper columns' about Rachel Reeves's fiscal approach," he said. "But I have to say it's an odd time for her to use a newspaper interview to focus on the politics of gender, rather than the Budget." John acknowledged the irony of he (a man) saying that Reeves should be focusing on more important matters than "mansplaining" at a time like this. But with the deepest respect: how could any man possibly know what it's like when they haven't lived it as we have? Our readers felt differently – and in a heartening display of solidarity, many of you were livid about the gendered attacks on Reeves. Some pointed out that not only does the criticism she faces carry distinctly sexist undertones; others noted the aggressive and personal tone of the commentary compared with male chancellors, who rarely face the same level of demeaning treatment. And then, of course, there's the glaring (and glaringly misogynistic) nickname of "Rachel from accounts" or "Rachel from complaints" – both patronising and sexist. Joy Lo Dico put it best, saying how "typical" it is that Rachel Reeves is finally calling out the misogyny she has faced in public life in the build-up to the Budget – only for men to tell her it isn't sexist at all, actually. Personally, I think these kinds of insults go deeper than a simple slip of the tongue – they are a deliberate attempt to undermine the chancellor's authority because she is a woman. What do you think? I'd love to know... You can write to me at victoria.richards@independent.co.uk – or to my alter-ego, 'Dear Vix', at dearvix@independent.co.uk. |
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We were all idiots at school. But not all of us were racist, Mr Farage |
Hands up if you were a bit of an idiot at school? I know I was – I used to nod and put two fingers out in a peace sign and say "spex" to boys I fancied (short for "respect") and thought I was hot as anything. I even kept a note of the time and location that the boy I liked in the year above would pass me in the corridor (Outside the science block, 11.05am, Friday) so I could saunter past, right on cue – and drop my casual "spex" greeting in person. I wrote "I hate Maths and Mr Smith" on the front of my folder and got caught out by... Mr Smith; I self-described as "popular" and one of my biggest regrets – even now, 30 years later – is that I once scratched a list of names of what I then believed were the "cool" kids onto a school desk (and included myself, obviously). Someone else later came along and scratched back: "There are other kids in our year too, you know." The shame of that anonymous interaction still haunts me. I was even a one-time playground bully – running away from my best friend Roz in the lunch hall so she had to eat by herself. But you know what I wasn't at school – and have never been? Racist. Not even for "banter". Which is not the case for Nigel Farage, as it goes, according to a list of people who went to school with him. The Reform UK leader has been accused of making racist and antisemitic comments while at Dulwich College by more than a dozen of his former classmates – which comes as a surprise to precisely no one. One former pupil, the Bafta and Emmy-award winning director Peter Ettedgui, 61, has alleged Farage told him "Hitler was right" and "gas them" – then did a hissing impression to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas showers. Farage, in a typically slippery denial, has said he "never directly racially abused anybody" and didn't engage in racism "with intent". He admitted saying things as a teenager that were "banter in a playground", but could be interpreted differently now. Well, I'm not buying it. And here's why... |
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More for Independent Women |
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The week before last, I asked you: Would you be offended if a man called you 'Piggy'? Here's what you said (click to read and scroll through to the poll): Yes, deeply – 84% Depends on the context – 12% No, not at all – 5% In this week's poll, I'd love to find out how you feel about mansplaining. Click here to tell me: Has anyone ever mansplained to you? Your views… Karen wrote to me this week to express her thoughts about the weaponisation of flags in our local communities by the far-right and shared this shocking story about her daughter and an aggressive neighbour (so sorry to hear this, Karen): I just read your article and it couldn't have come at a better time for me. Recently, in the town I live in, there have been a lot of protests and useless flag waving – and while I'm ok with people expressing their opinion (we live in a society that is democratic and it's your right to publicly express your views, even if they are ridiculous) – my daughter commented on a post online and as her views are very different from some of our neighbours, it didn't go down well. Unfortunately, a man who is related to one of our neighbours decided he would message her to comment on how 'fat, vile and ugly' she is; telling her to 'lose weight' and 'stop supporting rapists and child molesters'. She spoke to a friend who called him out for his crappy behaviour (apparently she can't express her opinion, but he can) and he then proceeded to make yet another account to message her and tell her she was pathetic and to 'watch her back'. Now, she's worried he's going to physically hurt her. She walks to and from work and he's taken to following her and slowing down to stare at her. Something tells me it's not about her opinion at all – and more about him needing to be right. He needs her to acknowledge his superiority (absolutely not!). Anyway, I just want to say that it's not ALL men – but it's definitely this one… and believe me, she's not just going to shut up and neither will I. Meanwhile, Judith sent a short (but very sweet) nod of encouragement in response to us talking about the trolling of women on social media and beyond: I'm afraid Haters Gonna Hate.
Just keep going
Jxx. And a man named Dante wrote a very biting email in response to last week's piece about Trump telling a female journalist to be 'Quiet, piggy' – in which he appears to have taken on board some of the insults we brainstormed last week. Well done, Dante! You stupid c*** Trump is my president and you are not welcome – we are an innocent country since 1776 and don't take orders from a third-world cuisine s***hole – you can go f*** yourself, you are not worthy and American and never will be – you a are a disgrace and you and your family will never be welcome so f*** off! Bingo! It's mansplaining, misogyny, trolling and Trump-esque belittling all in one. You couldn't find a more perfect example of what women have to put up with every day. Still, I love hearing from you – I'll always include your comments, whether they're good or bad, so please do get in touch and tell me what you liked, didn't like (and what you'd like to see more of) in this newsletter. Bonus points if you can think of a fun new swear-word. |
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I'm visiting... Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. In fact, I went on Saturday – and despite the pouring rain, the extortionate pricing (£12 a ride! £18 for a 12-inch pizza!) and the headache-inducing neon signs, I have to be honest and admit that when it comes to childish, rollercoaster glee, the two teens I took with me couldn't have been happier. It's not for me (and that's completely okay). I ducked out of the ice skating, took a nice, safe, slow turn on the giant 70m festive ferris wheel and then stayed out of the rain beneath an umbrella, eating a bowl of hash browns with melty cheese. On our way out, I got my revenge by dragging the teens into the on-site Bavarian Village where they had some kind of 90s disco going on and forced them to dance with me. They loved it (I think). If you go, my top tips are: agree in advance how many rides you'll be going on so they can't beg for more; wear waterproofs; and make sure you try your very best to win a giant tombola banana. I didn't get to take one home – and I deeply regret it. |
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