This will come as a surprise to many; however, I hold the deepest admiration and respect for Harriet Harman, more importantly, so do all three of my Conservative daughters and almost every woman I know.

Politically, Harriet and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum and we are political enemies. Admiration would not prevent me from fighting my political corner against her. We hold profoundly differing beliefs. She took me head on during the abortion debate and worked a sneaky behind the scenes operation which guaranteed I lost. The battle lasted for eighteen months and it was fierce.

Although I squealed and yelled about it at the time, I would have done exactly the same thing had I been in her shoes. She felt as passionately about her cause as I felt about mine.

Being political enemies does not mean that we aren’t friendly or polite with each other and I also respect her for that.  

Some of her recent performances at the despatch box have been incredibly impressive to watch and as a woman in a man’s world she has worked a miracle to have held the posts she has and to have survived.

She has led the Labour party through some tough weeks and statements in the House and has done so exceedingly well. It was a mystery to me why she didn’t run for leader and I assumed it was because she felt her politics were too ‘left’ for New Labour. If anyone was going to get Union backing, surely it would have been she?

It would appear that the country, or maybe it’s just Westminster, is youth obsessed. In politics your fortune is predicted not so much by your ability, merit, experience and wisdom but by where you happen to be at a certain time and place in the Westminster cycle.  

Ed came into Parliament with my intake. Harriet has depths of knowledge in comparison.

Will they be able to work together? It must be incredibly difficult for both of them. Only a few years ago he was scouring the corridors of Westminster in search of her lost coat.

 I am sure that if she thinks he has got something wrong, her wisdom will provide her with the means to let him know.