Centenary Action

Submission to the Procedure Committee Inquiry into Call Lists - Centenary Action

You can read our written submission to the procedure committee here👇
bit.ly/3Lis5TJ
Thanks to our academic advisory group with particular thanks to @profsarahchilds.bsky.social Childs and Dr Jessica C Smith for their support 🧵3/3

Dr Kumar urged the Committee to return to first principles and consider what processes are needed to ensure that MPs can work effectively and that Parliament operates inclusively. As she stated, “This is our Parliament, this is our House, and we should all be represented.”🧵2/3

Photograph of Dr Sarabajaya Kumar giving evidence to the Procedure Committee

Yesterday our steering group member Dr Sarabajaya Kumar
told the @commonsproccom.parliament.uk
that call lists could make Westminster more predictable, transparent & inclusive—helping MPs with caring responsibilities, disabilities or health conditions take part fully. 🧵1/3

Procedure Committee We are questioning: • Kirsty Blackman MP. Chief Whip, SNP • Dr Ruth Fox, Hansard Society, • Dr Sarabajaya Kumar (Steering Group Member at Centenary Action) 2.45pm, Wednesday 5 November Watch on Parliament Live

Our inquiry into call lists continues and today we will be hearing from:

➡️ @kirstysnp.bsky.social
➡️ @ruthfox.bsky.social from @hansardsociety.bsky.social
➡️ Dr Sarabajaya Kumar from @centenaryaction.bsky.social

📺 Watch live at 2:45: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Our partners 50:50parliament are sounding the alarm!

Time to press all the buttons for more equality in elected office.

Luciana Berger, Dolly van Tulleken and Ellie Chowns all came out to help!

Together we can Fix the System 🫶💪😍

Helen Pankhurst closing the London Stock Exchange

A powerful moment at @lseplc.bsky.social as yesterday we closed the market to mark 97 years since the Equal Franchise Act.

With politicians, business leaders & allies, we celebrated progress & looked ahead to the centenary.

This is #Mission2028 — the road to a gender-equal Parliament.

Today we marked 97 years since women won the vote on equal terms with men with a commemorative photocall of women MP. Each MP received a personalised sash by Remake Newport, marking their place in the history of #WomenInParliament.

Today’s the day! After months of work the personalised MP sashes made by the team at Re:make Newport are here in Parliament, ready for our historic MP photocall celebrating 97 years since women won the right to vote on the same terms as men.

This morning we hosted #WomenInParliament - How Far Have We Come and What’s Next?—bringing together MPs, campaigners & sector leaders ahead of the 97th anniversary of equal suffrage. A great panel shared insights and inspiration and there was lots of networking & connection.

Today we are bringing together our members and supporters with MPs for our #WomenInParliament event to discuss what needs to happen to get to a gender equal parliament by the centenary of equal franchise in 2028.

The Mummafesto: Helen Pankhurst Podcast Episode · The Mummafesto · 19/06/2025 · 35m

Listen to our Convenor @helenpankhurst.bsky.social
discuss our campaign with @stellacreasy.bsky.social
on the #mummafesto podcast: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

New steering group to champion disabled people in elected office A new steering group will support disabled candidates in elections, advising on a fund for disability-related expenses to level the playing field.

We're thrilled to see this new steering group to support disabled candidates & explore funding for disability related costs. We've long campaigned for this! Delighted our own
Dr Sarabajaya Kumar is a member! bit.ly/3HB4Dis

Ida Copeland MP: The Women MPs Who Changed Politics - Lessons From History - Centenary Action

On this day, 30th May, in 1929 women voted in a general election on the same terms as men for the first time. To mark the anniversary we are pleased to share a blog from Girlguiding advocate Hannah about trailblazing female MP Ida Copeland: bit.ly/4kFt1h7

Screenshot from Conservative website of candidate data

Great to see @Conservatives publishing diversity data on their candidates at the 2024 General Election. Transparency matters - Hope that other parties will follow their lead! bit.ly/4lqfQC0

Three disabled women in front of a broken wall to show breaking down barriers

Disabled women face many barriers to political office, limiting diverse perspectives. With 1 in 5 working-age adults disabled, we need a representative democracy. It’s time to ensure equal access to political power.
Our new report calls for action across the political ecosystem: bit.ly/44hHECh

Our new report reveals that disabled people face barriers not just in Parliament, but also at the selection and election stages—leading to significant underrepresentation across the political system, particularly for women. We set out the change that's needed.

bit.ly/3FMlFJN

Our #Mission2028 campaign calls for urgent action to achieve a #GenderEqualParliament by 2028—the centenary of equal suffrage. While progress has been made, it’s still too slow. Women make up 51% of the population, yet remain underrepresented in Parliament. It’s time for change.🧵4/4

Male Members still outnumber Female Members in the House of Lords. Visual representation of 69% men and 31% women.

The first women in the House of Lords took their seats in 1958, forty years after women were granted the right to stand as MPs in the House of Commons. Today women only make up 31% of the House of Lords. 🧵3/4

Male MPs still outnumber Female MPs in the House of Commons. Visual representation of 60% women and 40% men

Over 100 years after women first gained the right to stand for election, men still outnumber women in the House of Commons. Today, 263 out of 650 MPs are women— 40%. Progress has been made, but more action is needed to achieve a #GenderEqualParliament 🧵2/4

Since 1918, 4959 men and 693 women have been elected to the House of Commons. Visual representation showing 88% men and 12% women

This #WomensHistoryMonth2025, we’re reflecting on the history of women’s representation in Parliament. Since 1918, when women first gained the right to stand as MPs, 4,959 men have been elected to the House of Commons—compared to just 693 women. 🧵1/4

Screenshot of Centenary Action members meeting with Mims Davies MP and Dawn Butler MP

Great to have @mimsdavies.bsky.social and @dawnbutlerbrent.bsky.social , Co-Chairs of the APPG Women in Parliament, join our members' meeting today! A fantastic discussion on women's experiences in Parliament & how we can drive meaningful change. Thanks to all for the insightful questions.

Letter to Minister for Women and Equalities about Section 106 - Centenary Action

We've long campaigned with @electoralreform.bsky.social
to #Enact106 —requiring parties to publish data on the protected characteristics of their candidates. We welcome
Baroness Jacqui Smith confirming the government's commitment to take this forward.
Our joint letter: bit.ly/4itb70k

Photo of attendees at Bringing women to the table event

Photo of panel at bringing women to the table event

Brilliant #IWD2025 event on Monday with @womenfoodindustry.bsky.social Bringing together women in food & beverage with women MPs and Centenary Action to foster connections, share policy ideas, and drive change.

Towards a gender equal parliament: lessons from candidate selection at the 2024 election - Centenary Action

Pleased to share new research from @chrisbutlerpol.bsky.social on #GE2024 candidate selection. A record number of female MPs were elected, but progress toward a #GenderEqualParliament still too slow. A record jump in women elected is needed next time.
🔗 bit.ly/43vjiVh

@dawnbutlerbrent.bsky.social @mimsdavies.bsky.social @carmensmith.bsky.social @wendychambld.bsky.social @jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social @youngwomenstrust.bsky.social

Photo of attendees at Inspiring Future Leaders event holding up boards showing support for action to achieve a gender equal parliament by 2028

This #IWD2025, we’re celebrating women MPs! Since women could first stand, 693 have been elected. Today, 263 women MPs make up 40% of the chamber—a historic feat, but not yet equal. Let’s inspire young women to see politics is for them & push for a #GenderEqualParliament by 2028!

Congratulations to Jacqui Smith on her appointment to Minister for Women and Equalities. It's fantastic to have someone so experienced and such a strong advocate for women in the role.

@dawnbutlerbrent.bsky.social @mimsdavies.bsky.social @jodiegoslingmp.bsky.social @carmensmith.bsky.social @elliechowns.bsky.social @alexdaviesjones.bsky.social

Jodie Gosling MP talking to young women

Baroness Freeman talking to young women

Amanda Martin MP talking to young women

Patricia Ferguson MP talking to young women

More pictures of the conversations at the networking session of the Inspiring Future Leaders event

Anna Gelderd MP talking to young women

Baroness Carmen Smith and Ann Davies MP talking to young women

Baroness Jenny Jones talking to participants at Inspiring Future Leaders

Alex Davies Jones MP and Helen Pankhurst talking to participants at Inspiring Future Leaders

More pictures from the conversations at the networking session of the Inspiring Future Leaders event