Latest thinking
G-EPIC’s Impact on Young Women in UK Politics Shines at Parliament: A Call to Action
In this blog, Professor Bryony Hoskins from the University of Roehampton shares insights from a recent event in the Houses of Parliament, where the groundbreaking G-EPIC (Gender...
Ida Copeland MP: The Women MPs Who Changed Politics – Lessons From History
Girlguiding Advocate Hannah B has written about Ida Copeland as part of our blog series on 'The Women MPs Who Changed Politics – Lessons From History' A historic female MP who...
Inspiring Future Leaders – Insights From Attendees
Our Inspiring Future Leaders event brought young women into Parliament to engage with female MPs, peers and parliamentary staff. Young women attended from different member...
UK voters support reforms to make parliament more family friendly
In this blog Dr Jessica C. Smith, shares her recent research into UK voters attitudes to MPs taking parental leave. Parliaments often overlook MPs' family needs, and this poses...
She Rocks Business: Driving Gender Equality from Parliament to the Boardroom
Our recent Celebrating Women in Parliament event was sponsored by She Rocks Business. Here they reflect on the event and the synergies between work to achieve gender equality in...
Towards a gender equal parliament: lessons from candidate selection at the 2024 election
In this blog Dr Chris Butler shares research into candidate selection at the 2024 general election. Whilst 2024 saw a record number of female MPs elected, progress towards a...
‘Step up, speak out, and shape the future’: young women are key to achieving a gender equal parliament
In this blog Girlguiding Advocate Jiya (17) reflects on the recent advance in the number of women MPs and why young women are key to achieving a gender equal parliament. ...
Why a gender equal parliament is necessary for a fairer, and more inclusive society
In this blog Girlguiding Advocate Staci (20) shares her thoughts on the significance of 40% of MPs now being women and why we need a gender equal parliament. In 2024, 40% of...
Aishah’s speech from our ‘Celebrating Women in Parliament’ event
This blog is the text of the powerful speech delivered by Girlguiding Advocate Aishah (19) at our 'Celebrating women in Parliament - Next steps to gender equality' event. The...
Unravelling Financial Barriers Faced by Women in Politics
In this blog Professor Hilde Coffé and Dr Kaitlin Senk share insights from their research into the financial barriers faced by women candidates. Despite an increase in women’s...
Modernisation Without a Gender and Diversity Sensitivity Focus is not Modernisation: An Agenda for the New Modernisation Committee
Professor Sarah Childs, Dr Marc Geddes, Professor Meryl Kenny, & Dr Jessica Smith from the University of Edinburgh reflect on the establishment of the new Modernisation...
Reflections on Diversity in the New Parliament
In this blog, Centenary Action’s Iman Ali reflects on the current changes in Parliament, the increased presence of women and ethnic minorities and the decrease in disabled MPs. ...
Making Parliament Work For Women
Centenary Action Intern Iman Ali reflects on our recent ‘Making Parliament Work for Women’ parliamentary event. The event was sponsored by Dame Maria Miller MP, Conservative MP and Chair of the Women in Parliament All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). At the event we heard from civil society experts making recommendations and parliamentarians sharing their experiences.
Strengthening Democracy by Reducing Threats to Women in Politics
In this blog Hannah Phillips and Rosario Grimà Algora, Research Associates at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, share insights from a new report on addressing violence against women in politics.
Why undecided women voters are the key to the next General Election
In this blog, Centenary Action Intern Iman Ali explores how women’s votes will be crucial in deciding the next election.
Disabled Representation in Parliament
Centenary Action’s Dr Sarabajaya Kumar discusses why more action is needed to support d/Deaf and disabled general election candidates in an article for Chamber UK.
Making Women Count as Much as Men
Nearly 100 years after they gained the right to vote in the UK, women still don’t enjoy equal political power with men, argues Centenary Action Convener, Helen Pankhurst.
Do voters want more women MPs?
Sofia Collignon, QMUL, Kaitlin Senk, University of Exeter, Susan Banducci, University of Exeter share new polling commissioned by Centenary Action and Exeter University’s TWICEASGOOD project.
Celebrating Women MPs: Dr Noshaba Khiljee’s speech
Dr Noshaba Khiljee is a medical consultant and previous Conservative Prospective candidate in Leyton and Wanstead in 2019. She stood in the Local election 2022 and is an approved...
Celebrating Women MPs: Zöe Franklin’s speech
Zöe Franklin is the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Guildford where she has also stood in the previous two General Elections. She has also been a borough councillor...
Gender quotas and Proportional Representation: a way to accelerate gender parity in the Commons
In this blog Dr Nia Thomas – Research and Campaigns Officer (ERS Cymru) and Thea Ridley-Castle – Research and Policy Officer (ERS) share insights from their research into gender...
Celebrating Women MPs: Jess Asato’s speech
Jess Asato is the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Waveney and previously was a Political Advisor to the late Dame Tessa Jowell MP. She gave this speech at our Celebrating...
‘Even in opposition you can affect change’: Thoughts on being a woman MP by Preet Kaur Gill MP
We spoke to Preet Kaur Gill MP to get an insight into what life is like as a woman MP. She is the Labour (Co-op) MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston, and has been an MP continuously...
Celebrating Women MPs: Lydia’s Speech
Girlguiding Advocate Lydia, 16, gave this speech at our Celebrating Women MPs event in Parliament in June 2023. My name is Lydia, and I am a sixteen-year-old Girlguiding...