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Equalities minister decries male-led Westminster and 'hateful' PMQs Equalities minister decries male-led Westminster and 'hateful' PMQs
(35 minutes later)
A Liberal Democrat equalities minister has declared she hates prime minister's questions with a "total passion", has criticised the "massively male" environment of Westminster, and has attacked her own party's record on gender equality.A Liberal Democrat equalities minister has declared she hates prime minister's questions with a "total passion", has criticised the "massively male" environment of Westminster, and has attacked her own party's record on gender equality.
Jenny Willott, whose portfolio covers business, women and equalities, said parliament did not appear to be an attractive place for women to work in. She said she tried to avoid the argumentative atmosphere of PMQs whenever possible.Jenny Willott, whose portfolio covers business, women and equalities, said parliament did not appear to be an attractive place for women to work in. She said she tried to avoid the argumentative atmosphere of PMQs whenever possible.
Breaking ranks with her colleagues, she said the time was now right for all-women shortlists – considered illiberal by many in her party. She said she was fed up with the under-representation of female parliamentarians.Breaking ranks with her colleagues, she said the time was now right for all-women shortlists – considered illiberal by many in her party. She said she was fed up with the under-representation of female parliamentarians.
At a public event in Westminster she criticised the record of her own party, which has long been under pressure to address the fact that only 12% of Lib Dem MPs are women, and stressed that none of its cabinet ministers were female. At a public event in Westminster she criticised the record of her party, which has long been under pressure to address the fact that only 12% of Lib Dem MPs are women, and stressed that none of its cabinet ministers was female.
Her comments followed criticism of the Lib Dems for ignoring complaints of female MPs about the alleged sexually inappropriate behaviour of the former chief executive Lord Rennard, claims he has denied. Her comments followed criticism of the Lib Dems for ignoring complaints about the alleged sexually inappropriate behaviour of the former chief executive Lord Rennard, claims he has denied.
Willott, who stepped into a ministerial role to cover the maternity leave of Jo Swinson, described the low representation of women in parliament as shocking and admitted she had had "massive rows" with her Lib Dem colleagues about the need to do more to get women standing for the party. Willott, who stepped into a ministerial role to cover the maternity leave of Jo Swinson, described the low representation of women in parliament as shocking and admitted she had had "massive rows" with her Lib Dem colleagues about the need to do more to get women standing for the party. "Labour has done much better than either the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives, but still there's a need for more women," she said.
"Labour has done much better than either the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives, but still there's a need for more women," she said. "We've been trying to crack this for quite a long time in the Lib Dems. I've just got fed up with it, frankly. I think we should resort to all-women shortlists on the basis that it would kickstart a change that then continues."
"We've been trying to crack this for quite a long time in the Lib Dems," she said. "I've just got fed up with it, frankly. I think we should resort to all-women shortlists on the basis that it would kickstart a change that then continues." This goes further than Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, and Ed Davey, the energy secretary, who believe positive discrimination in favour of women should be considered only if the number of female Lib Dem MPs falls after the next election.
This goes further than Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, and Ed Davey, the energy secretary, who believe positive discrimination in favour of women should be considered if the number of Lib Dem female MPs falls after the next election. Willott acknowledged there were significant barriers to persuading women that a job in parliament was an attractive career option. "I think ultimately we do need to change the culture of this place , because … this is not an attractive job prospect if you are looking at it from the outside.
However, Willott acknowledged there were significant barriers to persuading women that a job in parliament was an attractive career option. "I think ultimately we do need to change the culture of this place, because … this is not an attractive job prospect if you are looking at it from the outside.
"The hours are horrifically long, you get shedloads of abuse. I know the Speaker got a lot of criticism for saying women walk out and don't enjoy participating [but] I hate PMQs with a total passion. I only sit in there if I absolutely have to. I absolutely hate it and it says an awful lot about the way the House operates that it seems from the outside not a particularly attractive prospect.""The hours are horrifically long, you get shedloads of abuse. I know the Speaker got a lot of criticism for saying women walk out and don't enjoy participating [but] I hate PMQs with a total passion. I only sit in there if I absolutely have to. I absolutely hate it and it says an awful lot about the way the House operates that it seems from the outside not a particularly attractive prospect."
Her concerns about encouraging women to become MPs were echoed by Lady Jenkin, who runs the Conservative Women2Win campaign. "The constant criticism of women in politics is hard. You'd think why would I? I stood once and I hated it. I hated being spat at on the street because [of wearing] a rosette." Her concern about encouraging women to become MPs was echoed by Lady Jenkin, who runs the Conservative Women2Win campaign. "The constant criticism of women in politics is hard. You'd think why would I? I stood once and I hated it. I hated being spat at on the street because [of wearing] a rosette."
Jenkin rejected the idea of all-women shortlists for the Conservatives at present, but said all options, including job-sharing for MPs, should be on the table, if the number of female politicians dropped after next year's election. She Jenkin rejected the idea of all-women shortlists for the Conservatives at present, but said all options, including job-sharing for MPs, should be on the table, if the number of female politicians dropped after next year's election.
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said Labour had done much better than the other parties, which, she said, were 20 years behind and "should be prepared to do something". Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary, said Labour her party had done much better than the other parties, which were 20 years behind and "should be prepared to do something".
About a third of Labour MPs are women and almost half of its shadow cabinet are female. Cooper said the idea of job-sharing for ministers could be considered to make life easier for senior politicians who were also parents. About a third of Labour MPs are women as is almost half of the shadow cabinet. Cooper said the idea of job-sharing for ministers could be considered to make life easier for senior politicians who were also parents.
The senior female politicians spoke out at the launch of a survey of more than 3,000 Asda shoppers who were also mothers. It found that only 3% were satisfied with the political system, just 2% felt they were represented by politicians, and 2% expressed confidence in politicians. Meanwhile, 58% felt disappoined, 51% frustrated, and 34% disconnected. The senior female politicians spoke on publication of a survey of more than 3,000 Asda shoppers who were mothers. Only 3% were satisfied with the political system, 2% felt they were represented by politicians, and 2% expressed confidence in politicians. Meanwhile, 58% felt disappointed, 51% frustrated, and 34% disconnected.
In the survey the respondents thought that the most important political action would be to limit energy and utility prices. Mothers under 30 suggested improving rights for working families, such as flexible working and increased paternity leave, should be a priority.In the survey the respondents thought that the most important political action would be to limit energy and utility prices. Mothers under 30 suggested improving rights for working families, such as flexible working and increased paternity leave, should be a priority.