Press release

Sunday 26 September 2010

For immediate use

Labour’s 21st Century Women Summit

Labour’s Deputy leader Harriet Harman MP today hosted the first ever women’s summit at Labour Party conference.

The event was the biggest political meeting of women in any political party in recent times, bringing together Labour women activists, new members and
elected representatives from across the UK.

Party membership has risen by 35,000, 40% of whom are women. Women now form the highest percentage of the Parliamentary Labour Party ever and almost half the new intake of Labour MPs are women.

Harriet Harman said:

"Labour women are at the forefront of the fight for women’s equality and will be at the forefront in the campaign against Tory Lib-Dem cuts, unfairness and broken promises."

Recent polling has also shown that women are even more worried than men about public spending cuts, and that a majority think that the cuts are being made in an unfair way.

The Women’s Summit debated how Labour will campaign to fight for women and families, as well as debating ideas for the future including on women and the economy, women’s representation and violence against women.

Speakers included Yvette Cooper, leadership contender Diane Abbott, Oona King and Ed Miliband, the new Leader of the Labour party.

Ends