The upcoming general election is being described as the most important election of our lifetimes. 

Three years after the EU referendum, Brexit is at the forefront of political party manifestos. But there’s so much more at stake here. Austerity is driving record numbers of families living in poverty to use foodbanks. The domestic abuse bill is still to be passed in parliament. And there are huge concerns about the future of our NHS.

Now, more than ever, we need to hear people’s vital stories, expose society’s hidden dangers and press our politicians on their policies. So it’s a good job we have plenty of brilliant political journalists out there to do this. However, in the recent shortlist for a best political journalist award, there were only two female journalists (Rachel Jupp and Delphine Strauss) on the list of 17 nominees. 

This has sparked a big question on Twitter: where are all the female nominees? Because we can think of plenty of female political journalists who are doing an excellent job of navigating through these truly turbulent times for us. 

In response to the male-dominated shortlist, journalist Marie Le Conte has revived the Words By Women Awards to recognise women in the industry. 

Voting for the awards has now closed but the winners will be announced at the event on Monday 9 December, which is the night before the British Journalism Awards

Freelance journalist Kat Brown, who is on the judging panel, explained the importance of the awards to Stylist.

“I’ve written press entries on behalf of organisations before and it’s largely an expensive, time-consuming nightmare,” she says.

“Who has the time, quite frankly? I love the fact Words By Women keeps it simple – and free – and all hail Marie for resurrecting the awards. It’s just a shame we’re still in a position where you either have to cough up £££ or rely on a newsroom editor to spend the hours required to submit you for consideration.”

To continue this celebration of women in political journalism, we’ve put together some of the best ones to follow. Because there are so many incredible people to include, this is a list that we will continue adding to. 

Female political journalists to follow on Twitter

• Emily Maitlis: Newsnight presenter, @maitlis
• Emma Barnett: BBC Radio 5 Live & Newsnight presenter, @Emmabarnett
• Ranvir Singh: Good Morning Britain political editor & ITV Evening News reporter, @ranvir01
• Cathy Newman: Channel 4 News presenter, @cathynewman
• Naga Munchetty: BBC Breakfast presenter, @BBCNaga

• Gaby Hinsliff: Guardian columnist, @gabyhinsliff
• Heather Stewart: Guardian political editor, @GuardianHeather
• Beth Rigby: Sky News political editor, @BethRigby
• Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff: gal-dem head of editorial, @CharlieBCuff

• Laura Kuenssberg: BBC political editor, @bbclaurak
• Fatima Manji: Channel 4 News correspondent, @fatimamanji
• Katty Kay: BBC World News presenter, @KattyKay
• Kate McCann: Sky News political correspondent, @KateEMcCann
• Hannah Jane Parkinson: Guardian writer, @ladyhaja
• Julie Etchingham: ITV News at Ten presenter, @julieetchitv

• Vicki Young: BBC chief political correspondent, @BBCVickiYoung
• Esther Webber: The Times reporter, @estwebber
• Emily Ashton: BuzzFeed UK senior political correspondent, @elashton
• Frances Ryan: Guardian columnist, @DrFrancesRyan
• Megha Mohan: BBC Gender & Identity Correspondent, @meghamohan

• Tamara Cohen: Sky News political correspondent, @tamcohen
• Dawn Foster: political writer, @DawnHFoster
• Marie Le Conte: political journalist, @youngvulgarian
• Rianna Croxford: BBC reporter, @The_Crox

• Vicky Spratt: i Paper housing correspondent, @Victoria_Spratt
• Hannah Al-Othman: BuzzFeed UK political correspondent, @HannahAlOthman
• Eve Livingston: Freelance journalist, @eve_rebecca
• Sarah Smith: BBC News Scotland editor, @BBCsarahsmith

Images: Getty

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