A report by the House of Commons Speakers Conference recommends that compulsion might be necessary for all political parties to increase the representation of women in the House of Commons.
Ceri Goddard, Chief Executive of Fawcett said: “In the lead up to the General Election Fawcett will be asking all the political parties what meaningful steps they will take to tackle the scandalously low number of women in political leadership positions. ”
“Less than 20% of our MPs are women and political parties who are serious about tackling this democratic deficit must take bold action to increase the number of women in their ranks.”
The report has also been welcomed by other women’s rights campaigners including Nan Sloane, Centre for Women and Democracy Director who said: “We are encouraged by many of the report’s recommendations but do not believe that the next election will produce the significant increase in women’s representation that we need. The challenge for the next government – or whatever party – will be to take the report’s recommendations forward and make sure that we see some real change.”
Harriet Harman, the Labour government’s deputy leader and the Minister for Women and Equality, emphasised that "Society has changed and the House needs to change too”. According to Anne Begg, Labour vice chair of the Speaker's Conference, "the case for equality of representation has not yet been won”.
The Speakers Conference was set up by the House of Commons in November 2008 to investigate and make recommendations to address the under-representation of women, ethnic minority groups, disabled people and other under-represented groups at the House of Commons.
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