Lack of women at Westminster

Now that the dust has settled after the May 2010 general election, and the outcome for women is clear, there are many reasons for disappointment.

Four women sit in the new cabinet (14%), led by Theresa May as Home Secretary, while Caroline Spelman is the new environment secretary, Cheryl Gillan is the Welsh secretary, and Baroness Warsi is minister without portfolio. The British cabinet lags far behind many European countries; Spain has 53% women in its Cabinet, while Germany has 37% and France 33%.

Overall 142 female MPs were elected to Westminster (21.8%) – more than one in five of the total members in the House of Commons. This was another steady increase, up from 128 or 19.8% of all members in 2005 – but only a modest gain. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union figures, after the election Britain ranks 55^th worldwide in the proportion of women in the lower house of parliament, lagging far behind the familiar litany of global leaders such as Sweden, Norway and Finland, as well as European democracies such as Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Despite the gains in numbers at Westminster, in fact Britain's international ranking slipped 10 places since 2005, because other countries – including many newer democracies – are advancing at a faster pace.

Labour continues to have the best record of the major parties, now with 81 women MPs (almost one third or 31%). The Conservatives made substantial seat gains, including those contested by women candidates, but still elected only 48 women MPs (15.7%). Meanwhile, despite all the egalitarian rhetoric, the Liberal Democrats actually managed to fall back to just 7 female MPs (12%), and they haven't nominated any for their five Cabinet posts.

	Conservative		Labour		Liberal Democrat		Total in all parties (*)
	PPC	MPs	PPC	MPs	PPC	MPs	N. of all MPs	% of all MPs
1979	31	13	52	11	52	0	19	3.0
1983	40	13	78	10	75	0	23	3.5
1987	46	17	92	21	106	2	41	6.3
1992	63	20	138	37	143	2	60	9.2
1997	69	13	157	101	140	3	120	18.2
2001	92	14	146	94	135	5	118	17.9
2005	118	17	166	97	142	10	128	19.8
2010	149	48	191	81	134	7	142 (*)	21.8

(*) Including all other UK parties (in 2010, the Greens, SNP, SF, SDLP, Alliance and Independent each elected one women MP.)

In a sense, this is all water under the bridge. But there are still important issues which need to be addressed.

In particular, right now only two candidates have declared themselves for the Labour party leadership contest – the bros David and Ed Miliband. Both have considerable potential as the next generation of rising Labour leaders. But where are the women? Harriet Harman, the Deputy leader of the Labour party, would have been an obvious contender, but she has quite firmly refused to stand. Other names which have been mooted in this context include Tessa Jowell, Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood), and Emily Thornberry (Islington South & Finsbury).

Ed Miliband, who is a personable candidate but without deep experience of high office, stood in part due to a grassroots web campaign among supporters.

If you could encourage any of the Labour women MPs to stand in the leadership contest, who would this be??

 

Comments

[dentista em casa]

This is great! It really shows me where to expand my blog. I think that sometime in the future I might try to write a book to go along with my blog, but we will see.Good post with useful tips and ideas.

[acyclovir 400]

0, http://antiviral-drugs.info/#7748 generic for zovirax ointment,

[antibiotic ampicillin]

2, http://best-online-med-comparison.info/#8123 how does ampicillin kill bacteria,

[link building service]

This is great! It really shows me where to expand my blog. I think that sometime in the future I might try to write a book to go along with my blog, but we will see.Good post with useful tips and ideas.

[link building service]

Les anthocyanes sont des colorants rose clair à bleu foncé. Ils sont extraits de fruits et légumes dont le chou rouge.

[link building service]

Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Despite the gains in numbers at Westminster, in fact Britain's international ranking slipped 10 places since 2005, because other countries – including many newer democracies – are advancing at a faster pace.

[cheap bedroom furniture]

You said exactly what I was thinking in this post and I wanted to say thanks.

[http://www.sobercollege.com/]

It is very interesting This is the first time i am read it which gives me alot of information Thank you very much. I will come back

[presentes criativos]

That link you provided was very helpful to my current project. Not only did I gain new information, I also had a great time browsing through the article that was posted there.

[commodity tips]

I am very much pleased with the contents you have mentioned. I wanted to thank you for this great article. I enjoyed every little bit part of it and I will be waiting for the new updates.

[Onelsold]

purchase [URL=http://www.karen-millen-uk.net/ - karen millen outlet online[/URL - online shopping uadjSWHl [URL=http://www.karen-millen-uk.net/ - http://www.karen-millen-uk.net/ [/URL -

[litigation attorney los angeles]

Thanks for a nice share you have given to us with such a large collection of information. Great work you have done by sharing them to all.

[canada goose]

I was very pleased to find this site.It is very interesting This is the first time i am read it which gives me alot of information Thank you very much. I will come back

[web design west palm beach]

That link you provided was very helpful to my current project. Not only did I gain new information, I also had a great time browsing through the article that was posted there.

[link building service]

t's wonderful to find out it does not slip in your signature at the bottom of the case and the appearance of brass accents from

[presentes de natal]

This is great! It really shows me where to expand my blog. I think that sometime in the future I might try to write a book to go along with my blog, but we will see.Good post with useful tips and ideas.

[http://www.wickedstreetwearstore.com]

If you have been looking for the most powerful link building strategy for your website to get better rankings in the search engines and to get increased online visibility.....

[insuranceservices]

I admire the way you brought out the general essence of your topic. Thanks for this blog.

[http://threecredit2012.blog.com]

Feel free to contact us on either of the following mails if you are interested in a meeting.

[content management system]

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

[options trading]

Betsy Bang, adaptor, Wiley and the Hairy Man: Adapted from an American Folk Tale, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1976.

[Relationship with Bonaca Seattle]

It really shows me where to expand my blog. I think that sometime in the future I might try to write a book to go along with my blog

[seguro de viagem]

Thanks for a nice share you have given to us with such a large collection of information. Great work you have done by sharing them to all. Simply superb

[hong kong flowers]

I was very pleased to find this site.It is very interesting This is the first time i am read it which gives me alot of information Thank you very much. I will come back

[dentista em casa]

This is great! It really shows me where to expand my blog. I think that sometime in the future I might try to write a book to go along with my blog, but we will see.Good post with useful tips and ideas.

[Amazon Ferry Relationships]

Thanks provided was very helpful to my current project. Not only did I gain new information, I also had a great time browsing through the article that was posted there.

[plavix online]

1, http://prevent-blood-clots.com/#7715 plavix cost,

[presentes criativos]

If you have been looking for the most powerful link building strategy for your website to get better rankings in the search engines and to get increased online visibility, then we have the best solution for your link building needs.

[link building service]

Thanks for taking this opportunity to discuss this, I feel fervently about this and I like learning about this subject. If possible, as you gain information, please update this blog with more information. I have found it really useful.

[http://www.lillyellen.com]

If you have been looking for the most powerful link building strategy for your website to get better rankings in the search engines and to get increased online visibility