Women Suffrage Anniversary

11.55.51am GMT Thu 28th Feb 2008

Advance of the Skirmishing Party

The Liberal Democrats have warned that 90 years after women first won the right to vote, Britain is still 200 years away from sex equality in Parliament.

Speaking on the 90th anniversary of women's suffrage, the President of Women Liberal Democrats, Lorely Burt MP attacked the lack of progress in achieving equality of men and women parliamentarians. She said:

"We need MPs that look like the people they serve, otherwise how will we get laws that reflect the interests and needs of the whole population?

"Every Party has some distance to go, as Parliament is still 200 years from achieving equal representation."

Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson, Lynne Featherstone MP added:

"It's a timely reminder that the fight for equality is nowhere near won.

"There is still an undeclared war on women - be that in the lack of equal pay, the failure to convict for rape, the assumption that women should care for their loved ones with no pay and even the old-fashioned rules of accession to the throne.

"Ninety years down the road and there is still a long way to go."