I'm a woman, admits tabloid bruiser

FOR over 120 years it has united the most celebrated female figures of America to campaign for the rights of women. The National Council of Women of the United States, which fought to secure women the vote, equal pay and to roll back racism, has appointed their first male member - and he's a Scot.

Joining the illustrious company of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, Julia Ward Howe who penned the lyrics to the Battle Hymn of the Republic and Sojourner Truth, the first black women suffragette is Jack Irvine, the Executive Chairman of PR firm Media House, who in his previous role as editor of The Scottish Sun encouraged the more attractive members of the sisterhood to disrobe on Page 3. Yet it is for his work in revitalising the organisation, which was founded in 1888, that Mr Irvine has been recognised by Mary E. Singletary, the current preisdent.Today the NCW/US has hundreds of members and is an affiliate of the United Nations but was keen to expand and become more international in outlook.

In recent years Media House staff have advised the organisation and assisted in the organisation of NCW/US's inaugural Humanitarian Award which went to Anne Gloag, the Scottish philanthropist and co-founder of Stagecoach for her work with Mercy Ships and the Freedom From Fistula Foundation.

The award is named after Susan B. Anthony, a founding member of the NCW/US, a human rights pioneer and the first woman to appear on a US coin.

Yesterday Mr Irvine said: "I am very proud to become the first man to be invited to join. When you realise the history of the organisation you can understand what an honour it was for me to be asked, especially after having worked with lots of strong. opinionated women in news rooms."

When asked, if, given his background as a pugilistic tabloid editor and the paper's topless Page 3 girls, he would appear to be a surprising choice, Mr Irvine said: "They don't see that in the States. They see a cultured gentleman with great charm and character from Scotland. They know I'm a former Murdoch man and at times I can be an angry wee Scot but Scots play well with the Americans."

Mr Irvine, who organised the media campaign, funded by Stagecoach owner Brian Souter, against the Scottish Government's plan to repeal Section 28 which prevented the 'promotion' of homosexuality by local government, explained that the invitation came as great surprise.

"When I got to meet them they said: 'we'd like you to join' and I said: 'I'm a man' and they said: 'oh don't worry we are not prescriptive' and so I asked: 'how many other men do you have?' and they said: 'none'. It's an honour but also a great opportunity.

"We see the organisation as a sleeping giant and we're going to rouse it. Our remit is to build up the membership and attract the top women in America in politics, business and showbusiness. At the moment we are hoping to get them behind a new battered wives programme in New York." The organisation's mission statement is to be "a united voice to serve as a forum to promote progressive ideas. To influence policy decisions. To pursue social, economic and political equality of women. To focus on issues for the betterment of women, children and their human rights."

Yesterday a spokesperson for the National Council said: "There's nothing in our constitution that prohibits men from joining. We just hadn't got round to it. We were so impressed with Mr Irvine's positive ideas for the society we felt we'd better get him aboard and we were deeply impressed that his colleagues introduced us to the wonderful Ann Gloag. The fact Jack's a Scotsman is a bonus."