'I was promoted on merit': Tory MP's fury after Harriet Harman says it was 'woke' to give her key shadow cabinet job during maternity leave

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 05:36 EDT, 2 September 2026 | Updated: 05:49 EDT, 2 September 2026 A senior Tory hit out at Harriet Harman today after the former Labour deputy leader suggested Kemi Badenoch was 'woke' to promote her while she is on maternity leave.Claire Coutinho said she was made shadow business secretary 'on merit' earlier this week after the move was mocked by Baroness Harman in an interview.Ms Coutinho, 41, is pregnant with her second child and on maternity leave until January and Julia Lopez will cover her role until the new year.Harman, a long-term women's rights campaigner, told Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast she would be handing Mrs Badenoch a 'Woke Badge' for promoting the former shadow energy secretary.'That's a very woke thing to do … I never thought I'd see the day, especially in the Conservative Party,' she added.Hitting back on X, Ms Coutinho said: 'How revealing. The left don't think a pregnant woman can be promoted on merit, only as a symbol of ''progressiveness''.'I may be growing some feet and eyeballs, but my brain is just fine. Glad to be a Conservative because we don't define women by their maternity status.'And shadow women and equalities secretary Joy Morrissey added: 'Claire Coutinho is a brilliant appointment as Shadow Business Secretary with real business experience- something Labour lacks in abundance. 'But for Labour that amounts to ''even promoting a pregnant woman''.' Claire Coutinho said she was made shadow business secretary 'on merit' earlier this week after the move was mocked by Baroness Harman in an interview. Harman told Sky's Electoral Dysfunction podcast she would be handing Mrs Badenoch a 'Woke Badge' for promoting the former shadow energy secretary while she is on maternity leaveThe Labour leader was also called out by the podcast's presenter, the former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson.'You never give us enough credit Harriet, actually women get on quite well in the Conservative party but it’s always the wrong type of woman for you,' she said. Ms Coutinho replaced Andrew Griffith as shadow business secretary in Mrs Badenoch's reshuffle on Monday, after he became shadow Chancellor.The former investment banker has been MP for East Surrey since 2019 and previously worked for the Conservative Party. Former shadow Scotland secretary Andrew Bowie succeeded her as shadow energy secretary. It came as a new poll saw the Conservatives push Reform UK down to third place for the first time since January last year.More in Common's latest survey found that 26 per cent of the electorate planned to vote for Labour, down one point in a sign that the so-called 'Burnham bounce' is already stalling.Mrs Badenoch's Conservative party is in second on 23 per cent, up one point.Reform UK is on 22 per cent, down one point, their lowest level of support in 18 months.The Lib Dems, meanwhile, are on just 11 per cent, closely trailed by the Green Party on 9 per cent.More in Common found Restore Britain, the hardline rivals to Reform UK founded by Rupert Lowe MP, on 4 per cent.