Whether it’s pay gaps, medical misogyny, an unfair division of labour or sport inequality, we’re constantly reminded that, despite the progress we’ve made, true gender equality still hasn’t been achieved. This imbalance extends into the world of politics too, with just 35% of women in candidate selections right now.

The reality is that women are the majority in life but a minority in government. Currently, the ratio of men to women in parliament, and on most elected bodies throughout the UK, is 2:1. Only 34% of our MPs are women, when it should be 50% for a truly representative democracy.

Following the Pestminister scandal and revelations of sexism and misogyny within British politics, it’s clear that gender inequality in parliament looks set to continue unless the parties and local selection committees in the winnable seats choose women to represent them.

That’s the important reason why today, 50:50 Parliament, Centenary Action and Chamber UK have come together to #AskHerToStand. 

“We urgently need to dial up the number of women that are in parliament today,” stresses Lyanne Nicholl, CEO of 50:50 Parliament.

“There are over 30 million women and girls in the UK, and there is a huge pool of talent in that number, but only 225 women have seats in the Commons, meaning that there are two times more men than women in the highest elected chamber in the country. The recent Covid-19 inquiry highlighted the poor decision-making that resulted from the absolute shambles of the ‘macho, toxic’ culture. Women were simply forgotten in policymaking in the most devastating ways, but there were probably other consequences too.

The campaign is actively supported by politicians from all parties including Caroline Nokes, Rupa Huq, Wendy Chamberlain, Jess Phillips and Ed Davey, and over the past 10 years has seen an increase in female participation in local and national politics.

In local elections, women in the 50:50 #SignUpToStand network were 30% more likely to get elected. In the 2019 general election, 50 of the women standing were part of 50:50 and nine won seats in the Commons. Of the 12 extra women elected to Westminster, six were part of 50:50. But there’s still plenty of change to come.

“Men still dominate the corridors of power. Only 12 extra women were elected to Westminster in 2019; at this rate, it will take until 2060 for women to have equal seats and equal say,” says Nicholl.

“50:50 wants men and women to forge the future together; we need around 100 more women to be elected to Westminster. And if the recent cabinet reshuffle, where men took on the top four roles is anything to go by, we can’t just sit by and hope. We need to act now.”

Be part of the 50:50 #AskHerToStand movement and inspire women to #SignUpToStand today at www.5050Parliament.co.uk/signuptostand.

Images: Getty