Ed Balls is asking me to vote for him.

His leaflet, which arrived through my letterbox today, promises “he will defend our values and fight for fairness”.

Sounds OK to me.

And he also says he “will drive a cultural change in the Labour Party”.

Hmmmm.

He repeats the Harriet Harman line: “We must deliver the goal of 50% women in the shadow cabinet and, over time, in Parliament too".

Why?

Speaking only for myself, I prefer a shadow cabinet of at least 51% socialists (however loosely defined). The gender is entirely immaterial.

I recall resigning as a PPS in 1997 (as lots of us did) over cuts in lone parent benefits. The Minister responsible for the policy was a woman.

Was the Minister’s gender an issue? No.

Was the policy a problem? Yes.

But for those who, like Ed, think gender trumps everything, I have a suggestion.

Why not alternate the leadership by gender?

Withdraw and allow Diane Abbott a clear run.

And don’t tell me you disagree with her politics. That’s not allowed.

It is gender that matters.

You’ve said so yourself.