Women's Equality Party

This article is about the UK political party. For the New York based political party, see Women's Equality Party (New York).
Women's Equality Party
Abbreviation WE (or WEP)
Leader Sophie Walker
Founders Sandi Toksvig
Catherine Mayer
Founded 8 March 2015 (2015-03-08)
Headquarters Studio 18, Blue Lion Place, London SE1 4PU, United Kingdom
Membership  (July 2016) Increase 65,000+
Ideology Feminism
Political position Nonpartisan
Colours

     Purple
     Green

(WSPU) colours
House of Commons
0 / 650
House of Lords
0 / 724
European Parliament
0 / 73
Local government
0 / 21,259
Website
http://womensequality.org.uk/

The Women's Equality Party is a political party in the United Kingdom that was conceived by Catherine Mayer and Sandi Toksvig at the Women of the World Festival 2015, when they concluded that there was a need for a political party in the United Kingdom to campaign for gender equality to the benefit of all. The launch meeting was 28 March 2015[1] under the title "The Women's Equality Party needs you. But probably not as much as you need the Women's Equality Party" following a proposal by Mayer. The party's full policy was launched by party leader, Sophie Walker, at Conway Hall, 20 October 2015.

History

Catherine Mayer
Sandi Toksvig
Co-founders of the Women's Equality Party

On 2 March 2015, author and journalist Catherine Mayer attended a "Women in Politics" event at the Women of the World Festival (Purcell Room, Southbank Centre). The panel was chaired by Jude Kelly (Artistic Director, Southbank Centre), and the panel consisted of Katie Ghose (CEO, Electoral Reform Society), Margot James (Conservative), Stella Creasy (Labour) and Jo Swinson (Lib Dem).[2] Having watched the panelists agreeing collegially with each other on almost every point Mayer stood up and said, "What about if I found a Women's Equality Party, tell you what, I'm going to go to the bar afterwards, anyone interested in discussing this come and see me."[3]

On 8 March 2015, at the same festival, comedian Sandi Toksvig presented an event entitled "Sandi Toksvig's Mirth Control: Stand Up and Be Counted" (Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre).[4] Interviewed by Jenni Murray on the BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, Toksvig said, "I had a fantasy cabinet of women, and I didn't care which party they came from, we had Doreen Lawrence as our Home Secretary. Can you imagine anything more wonderful? We had paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson as our Sports Minister, and I asked them to put forward practical suggestions. The world is in a parlous state, 9.1 million women failed to vote in the last election, we need to attract them, we also need to attract the more than 7 million men who didn't vote. Why are people not engaged in politics, because I don't think that the people standing represent the diversity of this country."[5] Mayer phoned Toksvig and the two agreed to become co-founders of the party.[6]

First meeting

The first meeting of the as yet unnamed party was 28 March 2015.[2][7] Speakers included: Suzanne Moore who had previously stood for Parliament as an independent candidate, Sophie Walker who spoke on careers, parenting and ensuring that both parents have opportunities in both, Halla Gunnarsdóttir who described a women's equality party in Iceland, and Hannah McGrath who discussed the practicalities of starting a party. The meeting was covered on Woman's Hour[5] and by the press, including Glamour Magazine[8] and London Evening Standard.[9]

Second meeting

A second meeting took place at the Conway Hall, also in London, on 18 April 2015, and included Sandi Toksvig, Mandy Colleran, Nimko Ali, Shabnam Shabazi, and Stella Duffy as speakers.[3]

On 30 April 2015, Toksvig announced that she was leaving her position as compère of BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz in order to help set up the new political party named the Women's Equality Party.[10][11][12] Speaking at the Hay Festival in May, Toksvig reported that since she had announced the move on BBC One's The One Show, she had been subjected to a significant level of abuse online.[13]

Registration and appointment of leader

The Women's Equality Party was registered with the Electoral Commission on 20 July 2015.[14] On 22 July, Reuters journalist Sophie Walker was announced as the party's first leader.[6][15]

Political aims

The party's mission statement opens with: "Equality for women isn't a women's issue. When women fulfill their potential, everyone benefits. Equality means better politics, a more vibrant economy, a workforce that draws on the talents of the whole population and a society at ease with itself".[16]

  • Equal representation in politics and business;
  • Equal representation in education;
  • Equal pay;
  • Equal treatment of women by and in the media;
  • Equal parenting rights;
  • An end to violence against women.
— Women's Equality Party, six stated goals of the party[15]

Describing the six aims Mayer said, "It's a very narrow pallette, we're not looking to be a party that can answer questions about what should be done in the Ukraine, or trying to have a platform on the environment or anything else, we are focusing absolutely narrowly on that equality agenda."[3] Party leader Walker agrees, "We won’t have policies on other issues. We are going to concentrate, laser-like, on all of the above, to make them happen. And we will welcome people from any other political party that agrees with our values of diversity and inclusivity to work with us."[17] However, Walker has promised that the party’s working definition of the word "woman", as well as more detail on the party's policy, following consultation with party members.[18]

Early indications of what to expect included Walker's call for a gender quota system to select MPs at the next two elections so that equal representation can be achieved in the House of Commons by 2025.[19] Walker has also called for six weeks paid leave, at 90% pay, for both parents after having a baby, as well as an extra 10 months of shared leave at statutory pay.[20] Writing in the Mirror Toksvig stated that the party further proposes that industrial tribunal costs be reduced from over £1,000 to "£50 for those who can afford it" in order to "empower all women to speak out about sexism at work."[21]

Policy launch

The party launched its full set of policies on 20 October 2015 at Conway Hall.[22][23]

First party conference

The inaugural Women's Equality Party conference took place in Manchester on 25–27 November 2016,[24][25] with opening speeches by founders Catherine Mayer and Sandi Toksvig on the first day,[26] and Sophie Walker's leader's speech on the second day.[27]

Motions carried at the conference include: a motion to expand the UK's definition of hate crime to include misogyny; a motion to strengthen the legislation for carers who need flexible working arrangements; and a motion to fully decriminalise abortion across the UK, the current Abortion Act excludes Northern Ireland.[28]

The party's name

The party's name was "debated and discussed at two public meetings".[29] Toksvig was asked why the party is called the Women's Equality Party, rather than just the Equality Party, she answered, "Because there is a huge issue, women are certainly not equal.... It's time that women, finally, after all these years, what is it, almost a hundred years since we finally got the vote, it's time we stepped up and took our equal place in society." She also stated the party's motto "Equality is better for everybody."[5] Mayer has also stated, "I’m very happy with the name: all genders are joining us and I hope they continue to. More than half the population is living in inequality and that is genuinely not good for everyone, economically or culturally."[30]

Elections

Members of the Women's Equality Party at Trafalgar Square during the Pride in London 2016 parade.
Members of the Women's Equality Party at Trafalgar Square during the Pride in London 2016 parade.

The party did not field any candidates in the 2015 UK general election, but plans to do so in 2020.[31][32] Walker told BBC Radio Wales Sunday Supplement programme that the party would be taking a non-partisan approach to elections, stating that "We will be undertaking consultations with our members and deciding which seats to target".[33] Figures from the party have suggested that there is a possibility that an existing Member of Parliament (MP) might defect to the party before the party contests an election, citing the example of how the UK Independence Party got its first MPs.[3] Initially Walker neither ruled in or out the possibility of a WE candidate for the 2016 London mayoral election: "We'd like to. It's a £20,000 losable deposit, though. If you're Zac Goldsmith that's not such a big deal but if a woman from a normal background wants to speak out for women and do it with the mayorship, automatically she's almost excluded". However, the party does plan to field candidates in the 2016 London Assembly election.[34]

Following various fundraisers the party decided to field candidates in the 2016 London Mayoral election[35] (Walker plus candidates for the London-wide list);[36] Scottish Parliament election, Glasgow region (Anne Beetham, Susan Mackay, Ruth Wilkinson, Calum Shepherd, Penelope Haddrill, Carol Young)[37] and Lothian region (Lee Chalmers, Jennifer Royston, Catriona MacDonald and Abigail Herrmann);[38][39] and the Welsh Assembly election in South Wales Central (Sharon Lovell, Emma Rose, Sarah Rees and Ruth Williams).[36][40]

Supporters of WE's election bid included: Emma Thompson,[41][42] Lily Allen, Hugh Quarshie, Tanya Moodie, Philippa Perry, Jack Monroe,[43] Jo Brand, Rosie Boycott[44] and Caitlin Moran.[45]

Results

The party failed to win any seats in the elections. Walker gained 53,055 votes (2.04%) in the first round of voting for London mayor.[46] Their best result was on the London-wide list where the party finished sixth with 91,772 votes (3.5%).[47]

Anne Beetham gained 2,091 votes (0.8%) in Glasgow[48] and Lee Chalmers gained 3,877 votes (1.2%) in Lothian.[49][50] Overall that gave WE 5,968 votes, 0.3% of the Scottish vote.[51]

Sharon Lovell, Emma Rose, Sarah Rees and Ruth Williams gained 2,807 votes, 1.2% of the total vote in South Wales Central.[52][53]

The overall total number of votes cast for the party in Scotland, Wales and London was 350,000.[54]

Membership and local organisations

1,300 people are reported to have joined the party on the day that it opened up membership, which costs £4 per month.[15] As of 13 October 2015, 65 local and regional Women's Equality Party groups had been founded,[19] and as of July 2016 the party reported that it had 65,000 members.[55] The WEP was described as "the fastest growing political force in the UK" in a Daily Telegraph article on the party's campaigning for the May 2016 London mayoral election.[56]

Fundraising

The party's first fundraiser, held in front of 400 people, including businesswoman Martha Lane Fox, took place at Conway Hall on 9 June 2015.[57][58] In September the same year Toksvig announced the dates for a comedy tour to raise funds for the party.[59][60] The artist Damien Hirst created a piece of work for auction entitled "Spin Drawing for Women's Equality" (2015).[61] The piece contained the party's colours and raised £20,000 when it was auctioned in April 2016. The artists Jake and Dinos Chapman also began an underground, guerrilla campaign stamping the words "Womens Equality Party" onto 2p coins and then returning them to circulation.[62]

Criticism

A year prior to the creation of WE, Suzanne Moore suggested in The Guardian that a feminist party should be formed, saying, "...the false doctrine of austerity has meant that women, single mothers in particular, and public sector workers in general, have been at the frontline of this war. They have been demonised and subject to punitive cuts."[63] Writing in The Telegraph, Kate Maltby responded by saying, "My feminism is directly tied to a commitment to meritocracy and individual flourishing...if her [Moore's] grand new feminist party kicks off by nationalising private property, I'm hardly going to be able to sign up".[64]

The British edition of GQ has also accused the party of "alienating 50 per cent of the electorate", adding that, "while the WEP may aim to appeal to both female Tory voters and female Labour voters, it doesn't take away from the implicit suggestion that the party – which aims for 'diverse' membership – is still aimed almost solely at women".[65]

The party has also been accused of being "both too ambitious and not ambitious enough", that, in order to maintain traction, it ought to concentrate on just one issue, e.g., quotas in the boardroom.[66]

References

  1. ↑ "The Women's Equality Party needs you". Facebook. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 Madberg, Astrid; Turnley, Molly (19 March 2015). "Highlights from WOW 2015: Women in Politics, 2 March 2015". Artefact Magazine. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Milligan, Becky (23 April 2015). "The brand new Women's Equality Party: 'not standing in this election'". PM. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Sandi Toksvig's mirth control: stand up and be counted, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, 8 March 2015". Southbank Centre. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Murray, Jenni (host); Toksvig, Sandi (guest) (30 April 2015). "Sandi Toksvig interview". Woman's Hour. 00:30 minutes in. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  6. 1 2 Cocozza, Paula (28 August 2015). "Women's Equality party founders: 'It needed doing. So we said, "Let's do it"'". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "First #WE meeting". Women's Equality Party. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  8. ↑ Alexander, Ella (2 April 2015). "Will you support the Women's Equality Party?". Glamour Magazine. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Staff writer (20 April 2015). "Londoner's Diary: Women's party is ready to be a player". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Topping, Alexandra (30 April 2015). "Sandi Toksvig reveals she quit Radio 4 to set up women's rights political party". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  11. ↑ Furness, Hannah (30 April 2015). "Sandi Toksvig quit The News Quiz for Women's Equality Party". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  12. ↑ Guest, Katy (2 May 2015). "Sandi Toksvig's Women's Equality Party is a movement for which time has come". The Independent. Independent Print Ltd. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  13. ↑ Elgot, Jessica (25 May 2015). "Sandi Toksvig: trolls are already out over plans to form Women's Equality party". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  14. ↑ "Women's Equality Party". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 Cohen, Claire (22 July 2015). "Watch out Cameron: Meet the leader of Britain's first feminist political party". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  16. ↑ Lyell, Carrie (30 April 2015). "Sandi Toksvig launches new political party". Diva. Millivres Prowler Group Ltd. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  17. ↑ Walker, Sophie (24 July 2015). "Our party's going to reclaim women's equality: help us make it happen". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  18. ↑ Speed, Barbara (22 September 2015). "Women's Equality Party leader: "We aim to push ourselves out of business"". New Statesman. Progressive Media International. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  19. 1 2 Mason, Rowena; Watt, Nicholas (13 October 2015). "Women's Equality party says quotas could achieve balanced Commons in 10 years". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  20. ↑ Ashton, Emily (15 October 2015). "This new political party wants to give both parents six weeks of paid leave". BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed Inc. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  21. ↑ Toksvig, Sandi (15 October 2015). "Sandi Toksvig: Bosses can turn a blind eye to sexism thanks to new rules". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Women's Equality Party announces first policies and campaigns". Women's Equality Party. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  23. ↑ Minter, Harriet (21 October 2015). "The Women's Equality Party launch is not a moment too soon". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  24. ↑ Crerar, Pippa (24 November 2016). "Sophie Walker: 'Put a woman in a political race and she is always the outsider'". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  25. ↑ "Conference 2016". Women's Equality Party. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  26. ↑ Women's Equality Party (2016). Let's Make History Together: Conference Programme. Manchester: Women's Equality Party. p. 22.
  27. ↑ "Sophie Walker's leadership speech". Women's Equality Party. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016. Video.
  28. ↑ Grant, Katie (27 November 2016). "Make misogyny a hate crime and decriminalise abortion, Women's Equality Party demands". i News. London. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  29. ↑ Duffy, Stella (31 May 2015). "The Women's Equality Party question I keep getting asked... (blog)". stelladuffy.wordpress.com. Stella Duffy via WordPress. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  30. ↑ McVeigh, Tracy (18 October 2015). "After a whirlwind start, the Women's Equality Party faces its first test – a call for quotas". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  31. ↑ ENG, Cafebabel (2 June 2015). "The new UK political party fighting for women's equality". cafébabel. Erasmus Programme. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  32. ↑ "Sandi Toksvig campaigns for equality with new political party". BBC News. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  33. ↑ Staff writer (25 July 2015). "Women's Equality Party to field candidates in assembly elections". BBC news: Wales politics. BBC. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  34. ↑ Urwin, Rosamund (19 October 2015). "Sophie Walker: 'We could have an equal parliament in a decade'". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  35. ↑ Stewart, Heather (6 April 2016). "London mayoral race is transformed as Sophie Walker raises profile of women". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  36. 1 2 Diversity UK Editor (3 February 2016). "Sophie Walker is WE candidate for London Mayor". diversityuk.org. Diversity UK. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  37. ↑ Campaigns (6 April 2016). "Women's Equality Party's Scottish manifesto out". womensviewsonnews.org. Women's Views on News. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  38. ↑ Staff writer (1 April 2016). "Edinburgh's parliament election candidates named". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  39. ↑ Staff writer (2 February 2016). "Women's Equality Party adds two Scottish Parliament candidates to May election lineup". wearethecity.com. WeAreTheCity. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  40. ↑ Mosalski, Ruth (11 April 2016). "The four women standing for the Women's Equality Party in the National Assembly election". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  41. ↑ Thompson, Emma (2 May 2016). "Letters: Emma Thompson 'I do not want to die before closing the pay gap'". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  42. ↑ Stewart, Heather (2 May 2016). "Emma Thompson backs Women's Equality party for mayoral election". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  43. ↑ Catherine Mayer, Lily Allen, Ninotchka, Hugh Quarshie, Stella Duffy, Tanya Moodie, Philippa Perry, Jack Monroe and Leila Bertrand (27 April 2016). Give half your votes to equality on 5 May - WE think that's fair #VoteWE (Video). Women's Equality Channel via YouTube. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  44. ↑ Catherine Mayer (host), Jo Brand (guest) and Rosie Boycott (guest) (3 April 2016). Jo Brand & Rosie Boycott @ 5x15 - Women's Equality Party (Video). 5x15 Stories via YouTube. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  45. ↑ Caitlin Moran (3 April 2016). Caitlin Moran @ 5x15 - Women's Equality Party (Video). 5x15 Stories via YouTube. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  46. ↑ Akkoc, Raziye; Riley-Smith, Ben; Wilkinson, Michael (7 May 2016). "London mayor election results: Sadiq Khan 'proud London has chosen hope over fear' as he wins landslide (12.50am Full results and figures)". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  47. ↑ London Elects (7 May 2016). 2016 GLA elections: election of the London Assembly members (pdf). London Elects.
  48. ↑ "Scotland election 2016: Glasgow results". BBC news. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  49. ↑ "Scotland election 2016: Lothian results". BBC news. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  50. ↑ "Our results from Scotland". Women's Equality Party. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  51. ↑ "Scotland election 2016: results". BBC news. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  52. ↑ "Our results from Wales". Women's Equality Party. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  53. ↑ "Wales election 2016: South Wales Central". BBC news. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  54. ↑ Cooper, Charlie; Forster, Katie (7 May 2016). "Women's Equality Party gets more than 350,000 votes and beats George Galloway in London". The Independent. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  55. ↑ Walker, Sophie (29 July 2016). "How to solve the Labour Party's women problem". Newsweek Europe. IBT Media. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  56. ↑ Cohen, Claire (5 May 2016). "Nudity, cats and doorstep politics: Welcome to election canvassing - Women's Equality Party style". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  57. ↑ Staff writer (10 June 2015). "Londoner's Diary: Women are on the march with Sandi Toksvig". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  58. ↑ McLaren, Leah (18 June 2015). "Can a party for women, and by women, make it in Britain?". Maclean's. Canada: Rogers Media, Inc. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  59. ↑ Duffy, Nick (29 September 2015). "Sandi Toksvig launches comedy tour to raise funds for new political party". PinkNews. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  60. ↑ Nixey, Catherine (29 September 2015). "Sandi Toksvig on swapping The News Quiz for the Women's Equality Party". The Times. News UK. Retrieved 29 September 2015. (subscription required (help)).
  61. ↑ Gerlis, Melanie (16 March 2016). "Damien Hirst, suffragette, spins with a twist". The Art Newspaper. Umberto Allemandi.
  62. ↑ Furness, Hannah (24 April 2016). "The male artists risking jail to revive Suffragettes' spirit". The Sunday Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  63. ↑ Moore, Suzanne (9 July 2014). "Harriet Harman is right about sexism in politics – let's start a feminist party". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  64. ↑ Maltby, Kate (11 July 2014). "Suzanne Moore, please don't ruin feminism by starting a feminist party". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  65. ↑ Carr, Flora (19 August 2015). "The Women's Equality Party is alienating men". GQ (UK edition). Condé Nast. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  66. ↑ Perkins, Anne (21 October 2015). "Two cheers for the Women's Equality party". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 21 October 2015.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Women's Equality Party.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.