Webchat on women and politics, with Nicky Morgan, Jo Swinson and Gloria De Piero: Tuesday June 24, 1pm

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello



Hopefully lots of you will have seen coverage of our political culture survey over the weekend.

We asked 1200 of you what you thought about Westminster culture, and overwhelmingly you told us that you think that it's sexist, it's not family-friendly, and that to get on in politics you have to be ruthless, ambitious, rich, well-connected and - last but not least - male.

You also told us that you think the political culture in Westminster doesn't lead to politicians being able to take effective decisions about policies that will change people's lives for the better. And you told us that most of you (around two-thirds) would never consider standing for political office.

We're going to be having a webchat on Tuesday at 1pm to discuss the findings with the women's ministers/shadow minister from the three main parties:

Nicky Morgan is the Conservative MP for Loughborough, and is the Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Women's Minister

Jo Swinson is the Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire, and is the Under-Secretary of State for Employment Relations and the junior Equalities Minister

Gloria De Piero is the Labour MP for Ashfield and Shadow Minister for Women and Equality.

Please join us on Tuesday at 1pm - and if you can't make it then, as ever, please post up any comments or questions in advance.

Thanks
MNHQ

STOP PRESS - DO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS RATHER FABULOUS VIDEO OF NICKY, JO AND GLORIA

[Peacocklady]

I would like to ask each of you whether you have faith in your party leaders.
When they were all photographed holding the Sun newspaper and smiling it seemed that their main priority is getting votes. Why did they do that?
Where is their conviction? Who is going to stand up for a creative education? Who is going to speak up for the poor?

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Hi all - can you share your route into politics, what compromises you have had make along the way, and do you genuinely think things are better for women in politics now than when you started out?

[MrsRTea]

My question is to Gloria: Can I have an owl?

And is there any chance of an Eagle?

[FannyFifer]

Scottish Parliament has a higher percentage of woman, deputy first minister is a woman also the leader of Labour Party & Tory party are female.
Presiding officer & deputy PO are women as well.

Holyrood is a much more open & friendly parliament, none of the old boys club like at Westminister.

The hours are also more family friendly and there is an on site crèche, politics in Scotland is certainly a lot more modern than London.

What do you think can be done to attract women to English politics?

[JoSwinsonMP]

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[GloriaDePieroMP]

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[GloriaDePieroMP]

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[AndHarry]

All the MPs banned already? :o

[BananaHammock23]

We've had a woman prime minister and a gay cabinet minister, but these seem to be the exceptions that prove the rule. Lots of talk on here about how sexist parliament is, but to go slightly off on a tangent, do you think it's harder to succeed in parliament if you are gay? (man or woman).

[EVAWCoalition]

hi nicky, jo and gloria -

you'll know the End Violence Against Women Coalition works to end all forms of abuse of women and girls. we talk regularly to MPs in all parties.

my question is - following the Mumsnet survey findings, do you think each of your parties is intent on sorting out sexist behaviour and sexual harassment as a matter of urgency?

i ask because our Coalition requested and then published each of your internal party policies on sexual harassment in May and when we had a lawyer look at them we were very disappointed to find all the policies were inadequate and appear to show that your parties are not across equality law. eg you are not clear on prohibiting and preventing sexual harassment of party members.

we think your credibility on critical women's safety issues - including domestic and sexual violence, FGM, forced marriage, sex and relationships education in schools and more - is affected when your own houses are not in order. even when the news is full of rennard, mike hancock, fabricant, calm down dear...

we know that women's safety issues really matter to voters - we always get loads of support for our campaigns from Mumsnetters, and in the local elections in May more than 800 local elections candidates signed up to our 'women's safety pledge' indicating its resonance at that level.

there is a link between the parties' failure on sexist behaviour and policy making on violence against women and girls. letting sexist stuff go contributes to the idea that violence and abuse is a (minor) women's issue. when really we need many more male MPs, on the back and front benches, to take these things on with all of you.

sorry for mini essay (!) and look forward to your answers!

Sarah/EVAWCoalition

[brandnewinformation]

Hi Nicky, Jo and Gloria - what's the most sexist thing that's happened to you in Parliament?

[NickyMorganMP]

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[bluebellgirl]

Rachel Reeves seems to be doing a good job getting Labours message out

[GloriaDePieroMP]

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[JoSwinsonMP]

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[bluebellgirl]

Will Labour stop ESA for sick people being means tested?

[CountingWomenIn]

At the Counting Women In coalition we're really pleased that Mumsnet is hosting this webchat. It's shocking that so many women feel excluded from politics but with so few women in Parliament it's no surprise. We'd like to ask Jo, Nicky and Gloria what their parties are going to do after the General Election to make sure there are more women candidates at the next election? How are we going to get to 50/50 women and men in Parliament before our daughters are collecting their pensions?

//www.countingwomenin.org
//www.electoral-reform.org.uk/thegendergap

[Katn]

I think some of the Hansard society stuff on possible reforms to PMQs sounds good. I actually like the fact the PM has to go to the House of Commons and account for his actions each week, it's the posing that goes with it that frustrates me.

I think quick-fire questions, and questions from the public sound like a great idea. What do you think?

[alice93]

My question is about the campaigning involved to be an MP. I know my MP quite well, and watch him every weekend tirelessly campaign in his area, election or not. He is always working.
As a university student of politics, and mum of one baby, I'd love to go into politics. But even I, (being a full time mum and student) have to admit the hours of an MP, on and off the clock, are very unsuitable for mums.

What are your experiences of collecting your children from school, taking them to football or dance classes whilst campaigning?

[ConferencePear]

I hate our present government of 'three men in grey suits' with the occasional loveable buffoon (Boris & Nigel) thrown in for light relief.
Do you agree with me that if there were more women in parliament the joke that is the CSA would be sorted out ?
I know you've tried Nikki.

[sleepychunky]

MNHQ - loving the colour-coding!

[southwest1]

A question for Jo, you worked up to a couple of days before your son was born, does that not show that being an MP and a mother are not really compatible?

And for Nicky, what's been the biggest change going from being a PPS to being a junior minister and do you think that as a PPS you actually had more chance to influence policy?

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

I'd just like to say that I feel there's a lot more to politics than Westminster - so much is achieved by campaigning groups, charities, and by local communities to effect real changes in people's lives both at home and around the world.

So a question - do you think people, especially the younger generation, are becoming increasingly bored and disengaged with the narrow politics of Westminster? And perhaps putting their energies and abilities elsewhere to achieve change?

[QothTheRaven]

Hi to everyone,

MPs are paid about £60k (which does sound like a lot) but actually in London in particular, do you think that is that enough to attract the best candidates?

[JustineMumsnet]

So here we at Westminster dotted around various offices in what is turning out to a feat of extraordinary logistics... And we'll be kicking off shortly. It's a kind of free for all answer fest but hopefully we'll be able to get some conversation going between the guests too at some point...