Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to encourage more women to stand for public office.

Further to my previous answer on 2 July 2018, I can confirm that this year the Government Equalities Office has been funding several projects, through the Government’s £5m Suffrage Centenary Fund, that help deliver our aim to increase women’s participation in politics across the country. Some of these projects are providing practical training to women who want an active role in politics. For example, we are supporting a political leadership programme for women in Bradford and Birmingham, and a project training women in the East Midlands, West Midlands and London in public speaking and media relations.

Also, in July this year the Centenary Fund supported an Ask Her to Stand event in London where 350 women interested in elected office heard from women politicians across the political spectrum encouraging them to stand, engaged with women’s political organisations and took part in workshops providing practical advice on getting into politics and public life.