Mims Davies MP was delighted to lead a debate in Westminster Hall this Wednesday that focused on the barriers for women in standing for roles in local and central government.
Women currently represent 32% of all MPs – which marks significant progress since the first woman, Constance Markievicz of Sinn Fein, was elected to Parliament in 1918. That being said, the total number of women ever elected to the House of the Commons in those 100 years is equal to the number of men elected to the House at the 2015 election alone.
The MP for Eastleigh therefore brought this debate before the House in order to highlight the work still to be done to increase the number of women both who are fielded as candidates in elections, and who are then ultimately elected.
Notable contributions were made by fellow Hampshire MPs Kit Malthouse, and the Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, the Rt. Hon. Maria Miller, while the debate was answered by the Minister for Women, the Rt. Hon. Anne Milton.
Speaking Mims said,
‘As the 380th woman to have ever been elected to this place, indeed the first female MP to have served the Eastleigh constituency, and as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for women in Parliament, I am thrilled to have secured this important debate.’
‘In the light of recent progress we can too easily lose sight of the fact that – although women make up more than half of the population of the United Kingdom – even following the 2017 general election, they still make up less than a third of MPs.’
‘Today we have had a chance to explore some of the very real barriers that prevent women from considering a career in politics – be it because of their perception about the job and what it entails, or indeed because of the actual structural barriers that do not make parliament all that hospitable to women’s lives.’
‘Not to mention the huge cost that comes with being an MP; begging the question as to whether we can honestly say that anyone, from anywhere, regardless of gender, marital status, family situation or caring responsibilities can afford to be here.’
‘Parliament’s perspective will surely benefit from being as diverse as the country we have been elected to represent.’
Mims’ sentiments were echoed across the floor, by cross-party representatives who share a common goal on this matter; including the Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman MP.
Mims said,
‘It is only by working cross-party that we have any chance of achieving success in this area, and I particularly welcome the speeches from SNP MP Hannah Bardell and Mother-of-the-House, Labour MP Harriet Harman who, among other colleagues, made thoughtful contributions to todays debate.’
Mims now looks forward to working on this issue further in her capacity as chair of the APPG for Women in Parliament.