Harman is role model for MPs

New Labour's new women relax by watching football, Brookside or This Life, don't watch EastEnders and rarely have time to go to the cinema, claims a survey published today. The report, in She magazine, says they are having to juggle the hectic life of being an MP with childcare and cleaning.

The magazine spoke to 10 women MPs, most with families and most new MPs. Nannies are employed by some, but most have partners to look after their children.

Most look up to Harriet Harman, the Secretary of State for Social Security, and Margaret Beckett, President of the Board of Trade, as their political role models.

Many said the man they would most like to have dinner with would be Tony Blair - or their partners, as they did not see them often enough.

Gloucester MP Tess Kingham, 34, watches Brookside and Coronation Street, admires former Labour Cabinet minister Baroness Castle as her role model and would like to have dinner with the actor William Hurt.

Gisela Stuart, 41, the new Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, lists Ms Harman, the Leader of the Commons, Ann Taylor, and the health minister Tessa Jowell as her role models and would like to have had dinner with the late James Cameron.