Towards a Fairer Future: Exploring the Foundations of Equitable Politics

By Kanika Phillip

Emmeline Pankhurst 

“You must make women count as much as men; you must have an equal standard of morals; and the only way to enforce that is through giving women political power so that you can get that equal moral standard registered in the laws of the country. It is the only way.”  

The pursuit of fairness is key to a truly democratic society! 

Yet, despite significant strides, women in the UK still encounter barriers on their journey towards political representation and influence. We need this to change and we are looking forward to that! Did you know that in the 2019 to 2024 parliament there were only 226 female MPs in the House of Commons? Now, with the recent snap general election in July 2024 we are at just over 40% with 264 women MPs, someway below the national level at 51%. 

Alongside that there were also only 238 female members of the House of Lords. 

That means that women made up 35% of MPs and only 29% of the Lords before the recent snap election. Now there are nearly 41% of female MPs in the House but the Lords, despite Starmer adding some female peers, the dial has barely shifted with 29.3% of women peers (Fewer than one in three members of the House of Lords are women). 

(Source: Institute for Government, 2024)

Understanding the Current Landscape: 

We have made progress, however, women especially those of ethnic minority backgrounds were underrepresented in both the UK Parliament and local government bodies until the most recent snap election. In 2022 the ”Equality in the heart of democracy: A gender sensitive House of Commons” report revealed that Only 5.7% of all 650 MPs were women from minority ethnic backgrounds. Minority ethnic representation in local government is lower than the corresponding population in all countries of the United Kingdom.

There are still more men than women in the Houses of Parliament

House of Commons:

Ethnic minority representation in the House of Commons has been increasing, with the 2019 parliamentary intake being the most diverse cohort to date. However, this progress still falls short of reflecting the true diversity of the UK population.  "Ethnic minority MPs often face systemic barriers within the political landscape, which hampers their ability to achieve proportional representation." The growing diversity in the House of Commons is a positive step, but the pace of change needs to accelerate to truly mirror the ethnic diversity of the UK. "Increasing ethnic minority representation is crucial for the legitimacy and responsiveness of the democratic process, yet progress remains slow and uneven."

A record number of 90 ethnic minority MPs have been elected to sit in the UK’s most diverse parliament ever, an increase of 24, according to British Future’s analysis of the 2024 general election results. The advance in ethnic representation means that this parliament comes closer to reflecting the diversity of the electorate, with 13.8% of MPs coming from an ethnic minority background compared to census estimates that 14-18% of the UK electorate is from an ethnic minority background. 

(Source: British Future, 2024)

There are still a lot more men than women in the House of Lords

Fewer than one in three members of the House of Lords are women 

House of Lords:

The UK has seen notable progress in women's political participation, with landmark moments such as the late Baroness Flather being one of the first Asian women to receive a peerage and being among the first ethnic minorities in the house. However, despite such milestones, ethnic minority representation remains significantly limited. "The House of Lords continues to lag behind in reflecting the ethnic diversity of the UK population," and only a small fraction of its members come from ethnic minority backgrounds​​. This disparity highlights ongoing challenges and underscores the necessity for further efforts to ensure that the House of Lords truly represents the diverse society it serves. It is evident that while there is "frequent scrutiny at the Westminster level," assessments of ethnic equality are still "almost never attempted" at other levels​​.

Image credit: The Times, 2024

Challenges Faced by Women in Politics: 

Exploring the reasons behind the lack of representation of women in UK politics unveils a complex web of challenges.

Some of the barriers causing systemic challenges that hinder their full participation in decision-making processes include structural barriers inside institutions and political parties and societal stereotypes.

Some communities of women face additional barriers relating to other parts of their identities. Racism is a huge issue for many Women of Colour on their political pathway.  At Elect Her we support Women of Colour by creating a protected space for women with shared lives experience to come together. We run some workshops specifically for Women of Colour to explore their political futures and give space to conversations regarding stepping into elected office and how racism impacts the steps we take.

The Importance of Equitable Politics: 

Equitable politics not only ensures fair representation but also enriches governance by incorporating diverse perspectives and experiences. Women's political equality extends beyond involvement and representation in politics. Women should have access to fundamental civil liberties! This includes freedom of movement, the opportunity to actively engage in civil society, and an equal share of political influence. 

Empowering Women in UK Politics: Significant strides have been made in improving the conditions for women in both national and local political arenas in recent years. However, there's still a pressing need for proactive steps to tackle entrenched power dynamics affecting women in politics. Transforming political attitudes must be backed by practical changes! Bringing about significant change in political workplaces and practices requires fostering a sense of collective resolve. Additionally, mentorship programs, leadership development initiatives, and support networks can provide aspiring female politicians with the essential skills and resources to navigate the intricate terrain of politics proficiently.

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