Despite several women – including Aphra Brandreth – recently being selected, on current polling, the spectre of a shrinking female presence on the Conservative benches still looms.
As of last month, only 16 per cent of those selected in Tory-held seats since June had been women – a drop on the current percentage within the parliamentary party.
We need the flexibility and support, now common practice in the private sector, for more woman to come forward.
That means looking into, and addressing, the cultural and working practices which create and maintain significant barriers for women.
It would be wrong to see a woman gifted a ‘safe’ seat in a winnable constituency just because there is a lack of female MPs.
I have missed parents’ evenings, my daughter’s secondary school induction ceremony, and numerous other events because of three-line whip council meetings.
If we are to win a majority in Parliament at the next General Election it is critical that we win the women’s vote.
If you know a woman who would make a phenomenal Conservative representative, ask her to stand.
Two former Conservative Women’s Organisation Chairmen on its centenary – “predating Labour’s Women’s Network by six decades”.
…and contrast it with their achievements in office.
If you can offer time as a mentor or speaker or donate to any of the groups mentioned in this article, it will be time and money well spent.
Once a seat reaches 30 per cent BME population, it goes Labour. In 2010, this applied to 75 seats. By 2022, it could apply to around 120 seats.
Committed efforts to bring full equality to the House of Commons are not reflected in the House of Lords