The day of the long knives 2014.

In this history of the Conservative Party the scene in Downing Street has a prehistory with the prime minister Harold Macmillan (1962) 'knifed many of his leading ministers'. There was 'blood on the carpet and Macmillan was caught red handed'. Just so with David Cameron in the same street on Tuesday. This time there was better news for women on the rise. Is this however anything other that a smart bit of  'window dressing' having attractive photogenic women prancing up Downing street? This in my opinion does a serious disservice to their promotion on 'merit' they have earned their place at the top table by hard work, talent and intelligence. They deserve to be there under any circumstance and would make it to the top of any organisation - they collectively found themselves in whether in the public or private sector. Its about time a prime minister took these talented women seriously. Rumour has it that he was 'beggared' by Samantha by his wife to do more for women - well he's certainly listened to her now. As a touchstone for a civilised, modern forward looking country you cannot afford to allow 50% of the population to founder on the 'green backbenches' its a waste of your human resources. No advanced industrial country can possibly allow that to happen without serious problems with its financial, industrial and creative future. A good day for women and government in Britain today.