Last night I attended Women2Win’s private viewing of The Iron Lady and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. It was co-hosted by Conservative Home and Prudential kindly sponsored the event.
It was great to catch up with friends there also, I can’t tell you what it’s like when you get so many political anoraks in one room!
Although the movie wasn’t completely factually correct I found it incredibly moving and inspiring. At a time when we are positively trying to increase the number of women in parliament in fact in public life in general, it brought home to me how absolutely incredible Margaret Thatcher actually was. I also think we forget where she came from and how resilient she was to actually achieve what she did.
It would seem incredible now in 2012 to have a female Prime Minister, can you imagine how that felt in 1979?
On Sunday I featured in the cover article in the News Review of The Observer, which was a piece on Tory feminism. I along with a group of female Tory MPs which included my very good friend Amber Rudd, Claire Perry and Louise Mensh and also Charlotte Vere the founder of Women On all took part in an article written by Gabby Hinsliff.
The article brought out the differences in the views of feminism between the right and the left. I have to say that don’t think the left have done the plight of increasing the number of women in politics and public life any favours. I personally don’t believe or don’t want any quotas. I don’t ever want to be there making up the numbers. I don’t believe in all women short lists and quotas, I don’t ever want to be chosen or selected because I’m a woman……I just don’t want NOT to chosen because I’m a woman. I want to be chosen because I’m the best woman for the job.
Yes we may need different treatment but not preferential as this will only serve to undermine what we are striving to achieve. What women need and deserve is equal opportunities, and to believe they can achieve whatever they aspire to.
Women can often be other women’s worst enemy, in my experience of the seat selection process which historically has been done by local associations (although David Cameron introduced the open primary for the last General Election) women often chose men over women.
I do believe we are breaking down the boundaries but there is still so much work to do. I’m very proud to lead on Women2Win in the North West and would ask anyone interested in getting involved in public life to put themselves forward…..be brave…..we need you!