Outnumbered

For the first time in history, there were more women than men partaking in a UK general election leaders debate. On the 16th April, Natalie Bennett (Green party leader), Lianne Wood (leader of Plaid Cymru) and Nicola Stugeon (leader of the Scottish National Party) took part in a debate with Ed Miliband (Labour party leader) and Nigel Farage (leader of UKIP).

I think these women deserve recognition because for so long British politics has been dominated by men, and despite the fact that there were only 143 female MP's in the last parliament (out of a total of 650), these three women have made it to the top.

Lianne Wood grew up in Wales and was educated in the local comprehensive school, and despite being a mother (and a single mother following her partner's death), she has been able to have a very successful career in politics. I think she is an inspiration to us all, demonstrating that it is not necessary to be privately educated (although 33% of British MP's are) nor a man to succeed in politics. She has managed to balance motherly duties with those that her work requires, and therefore I think she is a great example of the fact that it is indeed possible to be a working mother in this day and age.

Nicola Sturgeon was also state educated, and is the first ever female to lead the Scottish National Party. Despite becoming leader in the aftermath of the Scottish referendum, she has been able to gain much support for the Scottish National Party, with some polls naming her as winner of the 7-party leader debate. Once again this goes to show just how much impact women can make when they are allowed the opportunity.

Natalie Bennett is an immigrant (something that clearly does not seem to please Nigel Farage), and has lived in England since 1999. Unlike Nicola Sturgeon and Lianne Wood she was preceded by Caroline Lucas as leader of the Green Party, another female. Perhaps this reflects the party's policies: as quoted from their manifesto: "The Green Party would introduce a number of strong measures to promote gender equality and safeguard women’s rights including equal pay audits, shared maternity and paternity leave and better support for women in need." This clearly shows that women's rights are certainly on the Green Party's agenda and therefore their gain in popularity could have a positive outcome.

It remains to be seen what role, if any, these women will play in our next government, but for me it is an encouraging prospect to, at last, have some women able to represent us in parliament. Furthermore, for anyone who did not see, at the end of the 5-party debate, instead of a handshake, these three female leaders had a warm embrace. This just goes to show their solidarity, not just as parties with some common aims, but as women who have succeeded against the odds in gaining power and influence.

Written by Lili

Picture Credit: Ellen


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicola_Sturgeon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leanne_Wood 
http://www.ukpolitical.info/FemaleMPs.htm
https://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/PolicyPointers/Women_pointer.pdf