Parliament lacks the effective representation it needs to reflect today’s diverse society. Despite some advances in the past decade, women only make up 40% of MPs. The current political infrastructure creates hurdles for Disabled MPs and those with caring responsibilities. Among those is the lack of provisions for maternity leave for elected representatives at local, regional and national levels, forcing many women to choose between being a mother and being a politician.
Thanks so much for hosting this event @CentenaryAction – really enjoyed listening to the brilliant other panellists and our hopes for what an inclusive Parliament could look like. https://t.co/wv5QIFIxg0
— Olga FitzRoy (@OlgaFitzRoy) June 24, 2021
It is clear that the adoption of the virtual measures has made Parliament more accessible for parents and those who experience disabilities, yet these measures are due to be scrapped later this month.
Last month, as part of the Labour Party’s National Annual Women’s Conference fringe programme, Centenary Action were joined by Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire, Co-Founder of Disability Labour Kathy Bole, and Olga Fitzroy from Pregnant Then Screwed. Watch the discussion above to find out how Parliament can be brought into the 21st century. The full event is now available to view on our Youtube channel for anyone who may have missed it.