Cathy Jamieson MP, Labour’s Shadow Treasury Minister, responding to comments by Sajid Javid about appointments to the Monetary Policy Committee, said:

“It’s pretty outrageous for a Treasury Minister to imply that the reason there are no women on the Monetary Policy Committee is because appointments are based on merit.

“There are a great number of talented women economists who could serve on this key decision-making body. But George Osborne has not appointed a single woman to the MPC in nearly four years as Chancellor. This is why since June 2010, and for the first time since 1997, there have been no women on the MPC. As Ed Balls has said, Labour is determined to put this right if we win the next election.

“These comments reflect a deeper problem within David Cameron’s government, which is totally out of touch with women across the country. Women are being hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis and the Chancellor’s Budget choices have hit women four times harder than men.”