starter activity

In 1997 a record number of women MPs were elected to the HoC. They were nicknamed ‘Blair’s Babes’ by the Press. This still amounts to barely 20% of the total number of seats. Do you think more should be done to encourage women candidates?

How How representative representative

are MPs?are MPs?To define what we mean by To define what we mean by

‘representative’‘representative’To analyse how ‘representative’ To analyse how ‘representative’

our parliament isour parliament isTo examine how socially To examine how socially

representative our MPs really arerepresentative our MPs really are

Aims

Your taskYour task

Read Watts, p.196 and list any Read Watts, p.196 and list any evidence to suggest MPs are not as evidence to suggest MPs are not as representative as might first seemrepresentative as might first seem

How representative are How representative are our MPs?our MPs?

Current govt. Current govt. enjoys support of enjoys support of less than ½ votersless than ½ voters

Questions over Questions over legitimacylegitimacy

Minority views Minority views underrepresentedunderrepresented

2/3 MPs lack 2/3 MPs lack majority support in majority support in their constituencies their constituencies (2005)(2005)

Your taskYour task

Read Watts, p.196 and note the 3 Read Watts, p.196 and note the 3 main ways in which MPs can be main ways in which MPs can be ‘representatives’‘representatives’

The closely represent the views of The closely represent the views of the people who elected them - their the people who elected them - their constituentsconstituents

They represent the views of They represent the views of constituents as they understand constituents as they understand themthem

They are socially representativeThey are socially representative

Which of these 3 interpretations matches the way your local MP represents his constituents? Are you happy about this?

Your taskYour task

Study the information in Watts on p.197 Study the information in Watts on p.197 and find out how fairly represented and find out how fairly represented women are in the following countries or women are in the following countries or assemblies:assemblies:

Welsh AssemblyWelsh Assembly SwedenSweden European ParliamentEuropean Parliament House of CommonsHouse of Commons France & ItalyFrance & Italy European Parliament in

Brussels

Representation of womenRepresentation of women Welsh AssemblyWelsh Assembly 50:50 (2003)50:50 (2003) SwedenSweden 1 in 3 or more1 in 3 or more European ParliamentEuropean Parliament Nearly 33%Nearly 33% House of CommonsHouse of Commons 20%20% France & ItalyFrance & Italy 10%10%

Are MPs like Ann Widdicombe (Cons) a good advert for women

MPs?

Your taskYour task

Your teacher will give you a picture of your Your teacher will give you a picture of your local MP. Around the picture note down local MP. Around the picture note down evidence from Watts, p.198 note down evidence from Watts, p.198 note down evidence about the social background of evidence about the social background of MPs. Include the following:MPs. Include the following:

Ethnic backgroundsEthnic backgrounds ProfessionsProfessions EducationEducation AgeAge GenderGender

Ethnic backgroundsEthnic backgrounds

15 MPs from 15 MPs from ethnic background ethnic background in 2005 GEin 2005 GE

2001 all 12 MPs in 2001 all 12 MPs in Lab PartyLab Party

2 MPs in Cons 2 MPs in Cons PartyParty

Oona King lost her seat to George Galloway in 2001 GE. Do you think

it is important for parties to select more candidates from ethnic

minorities?

ProfessionsProfessions

2001 GE over 100 2001 GE over 100 MPs from educational MPs from educational backgroundsbackgrounds

Other professions Other professions over-represented, e.g over-represented, e.g political stafferspolitical staffers, , lawyers, media & citylawyers, media & city

Anthony King, Anthony King, ‘‘professional professional politicianspoliticians’’

EducationEducation

2001 GE, 449 MPs attended 2001 GE, 449 MPs attended universityuniversity

31% attended public school (50%+ 31% attended public school (50%+ in Cons Party)in Cons Party)

Can you spot Mr Higgins?

AgeAge

Middle-agedMiddle-aged Oldest serving MP (2008) is 82 (Ian Oldest serving MP (2008) is 82 (Ian

Paisley)Paisley) Average age 50.6Average age 50.6 3 MPs under 30 (Jo Swinton, Lib-3 MPs under 30 (Jo Swinton, Lib-

Dem, 28 in 2005)Dem, 28 in 2005) Average age of Cons. is younger Average age of Cons. is younger

than Lab (48 opposed to 53)than Lab (48 opposed to 53)

GenderGender

1997, 120 women MPs, nick-named 1997, 120 women MPs, nick-named ‘Blair’s Babes’‘Blair’s Babes’

2005, 128 MPs2005, 128 MPs Majority female MPs Lab (98 in Lab, Majority female MPs Lab (98 in Lab,

17 in Cons)17 in Cons) Other assemblies better Other assemblies better

represented, e.g. Welsh Assembly represented, e.g. Welsh Assembly 50:5050:50

Your taskYour task

Read Watts, p.199 and list the Read Watts, p.199 and list the reasons why women are under-reasons why women are under-represented in Parliamentrepresented in Parliament

Under-representation of Under-representation of womenwomen

Child-bearing & home-making Child-bearing & home-making responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Electoral system (candidate selection)Electoral system (candidate selection) Nature of parliamentary lifeNature of parliamentary life Fawcett society identifies four ‘Cs’: Fawcett society identifies four ‘Cs’:

culture, childcare, cash, confidenceculture, childcare, cash, confidence Sex Discrimination Act (1975) Sex Discrimination Act (1975)

amended to allow all-women shortlistsamended to allow all-women shortlists

PlenaryPlenary

Does it matter that MPs are not Does it matter that MPs are not socially representative? Hold a socially representative? Hold a boxing debate on the issue. Use the boxing debate on the issue. Use the evidence in Watts, p.200-1.evidence in Watts, p.200-1.