Senior Tory MP Caroline Nokes has warned too many girls feel excluded from parliament and “unable to embark on political careers”. The chair of the Commons Womens and Equalities Committee said risks “missing out on this enormous potential”.
She added: “How can we expect to benefit from the next generation of potential women leaders if the majority of girls and young women feel unable to enter politics in the first place?
“If Parliament is to truly represent the British people, then we must ensure young women feel able to embark upon a political career.”
Over 60 percent of women aged 14 to 24 polled by global girls’ rights organisation Plan International UK felt that political leaders in the UK do not represent and include girls in political and decision-making processes.
The survey of 1,000 people also found that two-thirds of girls believe there is a lack of female role models in politics, while four in five do not believe they can ever become Prime Minister.
Ms Nokes said: “Whether they’re campaigning to tackle public sexual harassment, raise the legal age of marriage to 18, or introduce buffer zones around abortion clinics, you don’t need to look far to recognise the ability of girls and young women to bring about positive change in Britain.
“Unfortunately, the world of politics risks missing out on this enormous potential because so many girls feel both unrepresented by Parliament and unable to embark on political careers.”
Ms Nokes earlier this year told how she experienced inappropriate behaviour about 50 times during her 13 years in the House of Commons.
The MP for Romsey and Southampton North, said that behaviour had improved since she entered the Commons in 2010, and people who worked in Parliament felt they could speak out more freely.
