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Life on Capitol Hill - Emma Barnett meets Professor Laurie Rubiner

Emma Barnett meets Prof Laurie Rubiner, chief of staff to Democrat senator Richard Blumenthal. Plus Jeremy Corbyn on what he will do for women if he is elected as Labour's leader.

Emma Barnett meets Professor Laurie Rubiner Chief of Staff to Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal. Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn outlines his proposals towards real gender equality and what he'll do for women if he's wins the Election. Why some parents only realise they may be autistic when they seek help for their children. Plus, Topshop decide to halt new orders of a tall and thin mannequin after a customer posted a complaint on social media saying - it was "ridiculously shaped". And could you be an MP as part of a job share?

Presenter Emma Barnett
Producer Beverley Purcell.

Available now

58 minutes

Clip

Chapters

  • Jeremy Corbyn

    Duration: 13:24

  • Autism and parents discovering they have the condition through their children being diagnosed

    Duration: 09:12

  • Topshop Mannequin Ban

    Duration: 03:43

  • Professor Laurie Rubiner

    Duration: 09:42

  • Job Sharing MPs

    Duration: 05:17

Jeremy Corbyn

Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn joins Emma to talk about what he will do for women if he is elected party leader. Although initially seen by many as an outsider, his opposition to the Welfare Reform Bill in late July galvanised his campaign and political polls now place him on the cusp of victory. We find out what proposals he has towards gender equality and what he feels he could bring to the leadership role.

Autism and parents discovering they have the condition through their children being diagnosed

Autism has, in recent years, become a much better understood condition and diagnosis in children has increased dramatically. However, there are many adults who have never received a diagnosis despite dealing with the condition all their lives. There has been an increase, reported anecdotally, of parents discovering they are autistic through their children being diagnosed with the condition - often hearing doctors describing behaviours in their children that they recognise in themselves. Many of them are now seeking a formal diagnosis. Olley Edwards was diagnosed last year with Asperger’s and has two autistic daughters; we talk to her about her experience and also to Dr Judith Gould, director of the Lorna Wing Centre that specialises in assessment and diagnosis of autism, about what support there is for adults with the condition.

Topshop Mannequin Ban

Topshop have stopped using a dramatically thin mannequin after customer, Laura Kate Berry, accused the retailer of a ‘lack of concern for body conscious youth’. She posted a photo of the offending mannequin on Facebook and in a matter of hours the message received more than 3,000 likes and generated more than 700 comments. Emma talks to Laura about the size 10 figurine that was stretched and “stylised to have more impact”.

Professor Laurie Rubiner

For three years, Professor Laurie Rubiner served as legislative director for then senator Hillary Clinton, helping craft her health care reform agenda that became a centrepiece of her 2008 presidential campaign against Barack Obama.  As well as healthcare Laurie has spent years focusing on women’s issues including reproductive rights. She’s been Chief of Staff to Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal for the past four years. Emma went to meet her at the senate building in Washington to talk about her career and how she got in to politics.

Job sharing MPs

Two Green Party members are going to the Royal Court of Justice to fight for a judicial review into giving MPs the right to job-share. Sarah Cope and Clare Phipps had requested joint candidacy at this year’s election but were refused by the Electoral Returning Officer at Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council. Sarah Cope joins us to tell us why she thinks it could work.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Emma Barnett
Interviewed Guest Jeremy Corbyn
Interviewed Guest Laurie Rubiner
Interviewed Guest Sarah Cope
Interviewed Guest Olley Edwards
Interviewed Guest Judith Gould
Interviewed Guest Laura Berry
Producer Beverley Purcell

Broadcast

  • Tue 28 Jul 2015 10:00

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