What is it About Westminster and Women?

90 years after women first got the vote, men outnumber women 4 to 1 in Parliament. It's not just the lack of women in politics generally that's concerning, it's also their virtual absence in the higher echelons of government.

In recent months, women have been squarely in the political headlights.

The economic debate, rarely off the front pages, has included growing recognition that the age of austerity has a female face: women's unemployment is at a 23 year high, and many of the benefit changes being ushered in will hit families - and women - particularly hard.

Recent uproar around male politicians' attitudes to women colleagues - sparked by the controversy around 'Winnergate' and Cameron's recent quip about Nadine Dorries being 'frustrated' has seen the debate about who is affected by government policy joined by a related discussion about who makes government policy.

90 years after women first got the vote, men outnumber women 4 to 1 in Parliament. It's not just the lack of women in politics generally that's concerning, it's also their virtual absence in the higher echelons of government. With the recent appointment of Justine Greening MP, women hold just 5 of the 23 seats around the Cabinet table. There are four times more millionaires than women in the Cabinet. Of the 119 most senior ministerial posts in Government, only 20 of them are women - a woeful 17 per cent.

Decisions of national importance - about everything from whether to go to war to how to balance the nation's budget - are being made with too few women around the table: the different experiences and perspectives of one half of the country are not being heard.

Worse - progress is at a snail's pace and yet slowing further. At the last election, the number of women MPs increased by a paltry 2.5 per cent. At the current rate of progress, a child born today will be drawing her pension before she has an equal say in the government of her country - the Equality and Human Rights Commission predicts a 70 year wait before as many women as men grace the green benches.

A groundbreaking new campaign launches today to challenge this sluggish pace of change. The Fawcett Society, the Hansard Society, the Electoral Reform Society, the Centre for Women and Democracy and Unlock Democracy have come together to form the Counting Women In campaign.

A new alliance combining academics, women's rights organisations and those campaigning for a better politics, the Counting Women In campaign will be fighting to ensure women have an equal presence and voice within our democratic system. We believe the under representation of women in Westminster, the devolved assemblies, and town halls around the UK represents a democratic deficit that undermines the legitimacy of decisions made in these chambers.

Supporters of the campaign at this stage include Mumsnet, the National Federation of Women's Institutes and the National Union of Journalists.

The Counting Women In campaign aims to change the culture of politics so it works for, not against, women.

Firstly, we want to see politics in this country brought up to date and into line with modern working practices. MPs currently have to negotiate their own maternity leave, while the House of Commons routinely sits past 10 pm at night - meaning those with caring responsibilities struggle to combine working in politics with family.

Political party recruitment processes can be similarly outdated: prospective candidates are expected to attend meetings at anti social hours, are often grilled by all male selection panels looking for the 'right man for the job', and men and women are often subject to different questions as to their suitability. The campaign will be calling on all political parties to ensure their selection processes do not inadvertently discriminate against women.

Finally, we will be working with the media to ensure women in public life are treated with respect. Endless discussion of women's clothes, shoes and rumoured plastic surgery serves to undermine and trivialise the views of women who hold public office.

Today, the campaign kicks off with a call for the Prime Minister to keep his word and make a third of the most powerful members of the government female by 2015. Back in March 2008 Cameron, then Leader of the Opposition, pledged that a third of top jobs in his first government would go to women. He reiterated this claim at numerous points during the election campaign, but 18 months into government women are still a rare sight on the coalition's frontbenches.

To find out more about the campaign, join, and sign our petition calling on the Prime Minister to stick to his word, visit www.countingwomenin.org

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