Something I think we can all agree on, Labour, Liberal or Tory

[HumphreyCobbler]

is the depressing lack of a female voice in this campaign.

Not enough visible women politicians, not enough women in the media, just not enough.

It seems so sad.

There was a study done of the Today programme. On average over the three hours, women were talking for twenty minutes.

Any ideas about why this is?

Of course, the debates defined the election campaign, and the debates were all very male.

But beyond that, a lot of it is just that the female politicians we have now (as well as most male politicians) are crap.

Harriet Harman's agenda scares the living daylights out of me but I really respect her for sticking to her guns and getting it through. She is the only high profile current female politician who will be remembered by history.

In the 80s we had great female politicians like Margaret Thatcher, Shirley Williams and Barbara Castle. Women who had fought every inch of the way.

Now we have nonentities like Yvette Cooper, Theresa May and Sarah Teather instead. They couldn't hold a candle up to the 80s generation.

More women have been elected this time though. Hopefully some of the newbies, on all sides, will be higher calibre.

It's because we're all on mn.

I agree, OP. Very depressing.

Fwiw, I am a huge fan of Harman. Tough cookie, very bright, knows the political landscape well enough to know when to bend and when to stick to her guns.

Bridget Phillipson looks like a promising young woman. Chinyelu Onwurah, too. And Rushanara Ali.

Louise Bagshawe for the Tories, I suppose. Found it hard to take that seriously, though. Oh, and what's the one who's a Tory and a lesbian called? Bet she has an interesting time of it.

Not a Lib demn, but shame Susan Kramer went.

Lib Dem, even

I agree that a lot of female politicians on all sides are lightweights. Whatever you thought of her views, at least Ann Widdecombe was very strong and principled, but other than her I really can't think of any strong female figures.

I think one of the new Tory MPs - Harriett Baldwin will be an absolutely excellent intelligent and principled politician.

Why were they lightweights? What do you mean?

We have had some fantastic female MPs in this country, we just need MORE of them, imo.

It is also telling that there are no heavyweight female political interviewers.

There are loads of excellent female commentators, of all political stripes. Polly Toynbee, Rachel Sylvester, Anne McElvoy are all brilliant. But all the interviewers are male (apart from Kirsty Wark, who isn't very good anyway).

Martha Kearney was OK I guess. I think Ritula Shah is underused by Radio 4. But they don't measure up to Jeremy Paxman, John Humphreys, Adam Boulton, Andrew Marr, Andrew Neil, etc.

I do really like the Laura Kuennsberg of the BBC though. I think she has a very bright future ahead of her.

once again I find myself agreeing with Humphrey....

Of course the Political Editor of the Observer left recently to spend more time with her son - she explains why very articulately here.

I dislike Harriet Harman, but I do admire her. Claire Short is another, I don't know of anyone of any political persuasion who doesn't have a great deal of respect for her.

Stephanie Flanders on BBC is good and should have more screen time.

I like Wark. She is understated. She doesn't try to show off and do the whole 'look how clever I am' thing that so many male commentators do.

Also, I think Paxo has become a cariacature of himself, to be honest.

Oh yes, Stephanie is good. She doesn't really do interviews though, just analysis.

Cathy Newman of Channel 4 news is another excellent correspondent.

By the way, I agree above about both Anne Widdecombe and Clare Short. Mo Mowlam too. But they are all gone.

I cannot agree re: Anne Widdecombe. Her politics are just so abhorrent. She is positively anti-woman.

Forget the politics.

She was strong, independent minded, principled, and female.

Only one of the above descriptions apply to Jacqui Smith - or for party balance, say, Theresa Villiers.

On the Tory sides I have high hopes for Chloe Smith, who famously won the Norwich North by-election, and also Justine Greening. Am not too familiar with the new cohort. I don't like Louise Bagshawe but I don't know why. Have heard good things about Priti Patel.

I like Kay Burley

Seriously though. I like Julia Goldworthy and its such a shame she missed out on re-election by such a short margain.

I also think Caroline Lucas is a brilliant woman.

Agree PollyTick. Anne Widdecombe actually changed her religion because she couldn't cope with women priests in the C of E.

Harriet Harman is on the side of women isn't she. Didn't she pass tougher sentances for rapists? We should applaud her. It is very telling that a women's woman got slaughtered by a male-orientated media.

But I still admire Anne Widdecombe for her strength of conviction. She also hated Michael Howard, that has to be a plus point.

I dislike Harriet Harman because I don't like her attitude to many things - doesn't mean I don't admire her in some ways.

The Today programme thing really annoyed me though, it is just so unnecessary.

Am also very glad about Caroline Lucas, she is so articulate and intelligent. It is great that she is a party leader and has a seat.

It took me 21 seconds to shut her up

I do like Caroline Lucas. I am not a Green supporter, but I wish her well.