Local MP Maria Miller joined other women Parliamentarians past and present to highlight the need for a more balanced Parliament. In the past 750 years just 370 women have been elected to the House of Commons. Maria was the 265th woman to be elected and the first woman elected to a North Hampshire seat.
Maria said, “I was shocked to find out that I was the 265th woman ever to be elected to Parliament. There are more men in the House of Commons today than there are women who have ever been elected as MPs.
Whilst all of the major Parties are encouraging more women to stand to make sure we have a more representative democracy I think Parliament needs to become a more women friendly work place too – when I was elected my youngest son was just 3 years old. It was difficult to be a mum to three primary school aged children and sit on the green benches until late into the night. Sitting hours are getting more family friendly but still 40% of female MPs do not have children. Parliament is missing out on the experience and expertise of a huge group of women and this has to change.”