Linda Gilroy joined Parliamentary colleagues at Westminster this Wednesday to celebrate International Women’s Week 2008.

A cross party delegation of MPs gathered in Victoria Tower Gardens to lay a wreath at the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, one of the founders of the women’s suffrage movement. They were joined by Minister for Equalities and Women, the Rt. Hon Harriet Harman MP. 

In 1918 women over thirty were granted the right to vote; in 1928 the age limit was equalised with that of men to 21. In 1969 it was reduced further to the current limit of 18. 

Of all the political parties, Labour has always gone the furthest in champion the rights of women. In 1997 a record 120 women were elected to Parliament, of which 101 were Labour Party members.

Over the past eleven years, the Labour Government have introduced a raft of policies to help women, especially working mothers, such as an increased maternity leave and the right to request flexible working hours. It has also raised issues such as the exploitation of women sex workers to the very top of the international agenda. 

Linda Gilroy said “In remembering the struggle endured by women like Emmeline Pankhurst, I am reminded of how far women have come and much we have to be thankful for. Yet we should also look to the future and the many areas, such as equal pay, where further progress needs to be made”.

you can read more about what the Labour Government have done for women here.

7 March 2008