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Jess Phillips has said it will be “embarrassing” if Keir Starmer beats the four female contenders in the Labour leadership race.
The Birmingham and Yardley MP, who is in the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, said the Labour Party had a “blindspot” when it came to women leaders.
Asked whether men should step aside to allow women to come through, she added that “passing the mic” can be “the greatest way to show you truly believe in something.”
Sir Keir and Ms Phillips are in the running alongside Rebecca Long-Bailey, Emily Thornberry and Lisa Nandy.
Talking about there never being a female Labour leader, Ms Phillips told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “It’s genuinely frustrating. It does a disservice to the Labour Party’s record on women.”
Referring to how she would feel if Sir Keir won the battle, she added: “I think it would look bad, to be honest.”
Ms Ridge then asked if it would be an “embarrassment” if Sir Keir – the only male candidate and current favourite – won, she said: “Yeah, I think it would be embarrassing.
“When there’s one man in the race and four women… It will be embarrassing.”
She added: “It’s not great if we can’t ever seem to think that the women are good enough.
“When you’re a woman in politics, you’re always “the next time”. It’s always “we have to pick the best person for the job” – they often mean the best man and that is disappointing.”
Asked if men needed to “step aside” to allow women to come through, she replied: “If you truly believe in women’s representation…. sometimes passing the mic is the greatest way to show that you truly believe in something.
“But it’s a very difficult argument to say you should stand back if you truly think you’re the best person for the job.”
Ms Phillips was also quizzed on Brexit, and insisted she was not an “uber Remainer”.
Althought she said has no plans to apply for the UK to rejoin the EU, Ms Phillips said it was not an “honest position” to close off future options or alliances.
She added: “I don’t think this is a conversation that’s even up for debate at the moment.
“There’s no plan to have some sort of campaign to rejoin the European Union.
“But any prime minister who wouldn’t look at the merits of every single alliance that our country could have for our safety, security, peace, and economic viability with a reasoned head on, anyone who closes off any option in the future, I just believe that that’s an honest position.”
She added: “This isn’t about me hoping that this fails, I don’t hope that Boris Johnson causes calamity in the country.
“I hope that the people in my constituency, and across the country, don’t lose their jobs.
“This is about scrutinising what was promised to the people and making sure that the best thing can happen in our country.”
