Main barrister, and Boris Johnson’s ex-wife, Marina Wheeler had hoped to attend the get together’s annual convention this week, The Unbiased understands.
Ms Wheeler, who was on Saturday unveiled as Labour’s new adviser on whistleblowingis serving to Sir Keir Starmer’s get together develop its coverage to assist victims of sexual harassment within the office.
She advised The Unbiased it was a “privilege” to assist Labour defend girls from abusive colleagues. Her appointment has been broadly seen as a coup for Labour.
She is the second high-profile lady from exterior get together politics to affix Sir Keir’s workforce. It follows the appointment of former civil servant Sue Grey, whose report into lockdown-busting events inside No 10 throughout his time as prime minister contributed to his downfall.
Ms Wheeler will advise the shadow lawyer basic Emily Thornberry, who will set out the plans in her speech to the occasion on Tuesday.
The Unbiased understands that Ms Wheeler had initially hoped to attend the convention, being held in Liverpool this week. The assembly might be the final such gathering earlier than the get together tries to oust the Tories on the subsequent basic election. Sources claimed that work commitments had stored Ms Wheeler away, nevertheless.
Whistleblowers are already shielded from unfairly shedding their job, however the legislation solely applies in sure situations, together with potential miscarriages of justice or felony wrongdoing.
The federal government’s present steering on whistleblowing warns that: “Private grievances (for instance bullying, harassment, discrimination) are usually not coated by whistleblowing legislation, until your explicit case is within the public curiosity.”
Ms Wheeler stated that the in the intervening time: “(Girls within the office) too typically undergo sexual harassment and assault and so they pay a heavy value for talking out. Understanding this, and to maintain their jobs, they undergo in silence.”
Ms Thornberry will inform her get together’s convention that whereas the prime minister says he is aware of what a girl is there’s a “distinction between a Tory authorities that pretends to care about girls’s rights, and a Labour Get together that delivers them.”
In one other landmark change, common-law wives who dwell with their companions can even get the identical rights, together with over property, as married girls ought to their relationship finish.