The Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, has spoken on the importance of her constituents making time to cast their vote at each and every election, as the UK celebrates 100 hundred years since women won the right to vote in 1918.
Commenting, Mims said:
“The ability to take part in open and free elections underpins democracies around the globe, and no more so than here in the UK - home to the mother of all parliaments.”
“As someone that is instinctively passionate about standing up for women’s issues and promoting the involvement of women in politics, I welcome the influence that women now have thanks to Emmeline Pankhurst and the Suffragettes work one hundred years ago.”
“This has meant that women’s issues, which even in recent history were often spoken about only in the shadows of the corridors of power, are now front and centre within many of the debates that take place across the country. I am delighted to have taken part in such debates and to have led those conversations - covering concerns surrounding the hormone pregnancy test Primodos, the continued use of Mesh Implants and the use of Valproate during pregnancy.”
“I am delighted that women continue to take a lead on these important debates as local Councillors, Mayors, MP’s, Ministers, First Ministers and even, twice now, as Prime Minister!”
Having previously served as a Councillor, both at Parish and District level, Mims Davies was elected as the Member of Parliament for Eastleigh at the 2015 General Election, becoming the first woman to represent the constituency in Parliament. In doing so, she became the 380th woman to be elected to Parliament. Following the 2015 General Election, the number of women elected to Parliament rose by almost a third, the most significant rise since the 1997 General Election.
Further to being elected to Parliament, the Eastleigh MP was elected as the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Parliament, and was also elected to the Women and Equalities Select Committee.
Last month, the Eastleigh MP was promoted to the Government’s Whips Office, joining an all-female line-up of Assistant Government Whips working to ensure that the Government’s agenda and the manifesto it was elected on makes its way through the Commons successfully.
Commenting further Mims said:
“It is no surprise that, having served communities both as a local Councillor and now as the local MP for Eastleigh, I have seen first-hand the good that women playing an active role in politics can do. I am therefore delighted that Joy Haythorne will be standing - alongside Steve Wildin - as one of the candidates in this Thursdays By-Election in Botley.”
“Joy has long been a pillar within the Botley community, and understands the issues that affect local people. Both Joy and Steve will be excellent Councillors, and I hope that this centenary anniversary will come as a potent reminder of the importance of exercising your right to vote.”