Copyright huffingtonpost
A Reform UK majority at the next general election could mean female representation in parliament drops to around one in four, according to new analysis. Campaigners at 50:50 Parliament have warned that, if the current opinion polls are accurate, women’s equality could fall significantly for the first time in over 100 years. Using Electoral Calculus polling data and a seat-level analysis, the campaigners found female representation could fall from 41% to 26% if Nigel Farage’s party continues to be the most popular party in British politics. Reform is currently polling at 27%, according to YouGov, while Labour trails behind on 18% and the Tories sit at 17%. Farage’s right-wing party has comfortably held the lead for the last six months. Non-partisan campaigners at 50:50 also pointed out that Reform’s 2024 candidate selection was just 16% women and 84% men – the worst ratio of all the parties, according to 50:50′s predictions. Reform currently has five MPs, one of whom is a woman, Sarah Pochin, who won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in May. Outside of parliament, Reform’s most senior elected official is former Tory Andrea Jenkyns, who became the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire for Reform in the spring. The party also held a “Women for Reform” press conference in August with Pochin, Jenkyns, Westminster City councillor Laila Cunningham and leader of Kent County Council Linden Kemkaran all declaring they were “proud to be one of Farage’s fillies”. Meanwhile, if the Conservatives won a majority, 50:50 predicted the party would reduce the proportion of women MPs to 33%, based on their 2024 candidate selection. Even if Labour – which had more female MPs win seats in 2024 than the whole of the Conservatives put together – wins another majority, women’s representation will remain below half at 47% in parliament. A victory from the Greens would deliver 44% gender parity, while the Liberal Democrats would offer just 28%. 50:50′s CEO Lyanne Nicholl said: “If these predictions play out, the impact on women’s representation will be devastating. “This isn’t about party politics – it’s about democracy. More women MPs across all parties means better policymaking that reflects women’s lived experiences. “For decades, women MPs have driven landmark change – from Barbara Castle’s Equal Pay Act, to Harriet Harman’s Equality Act, to Theresa May and Yvette Cooper’s cross-party reforms on domestic abuse. Without protecting these gains, we risk turning back the clock. “Whatever your views, without enough women at the table, we risk policymaking ignoring half of the population.” She added: “It’s indisputable: women MPs ensure women’s voices are heard. Without them, progress will stall or even reverse. Diversity in leadership strengthens our economy, society, and democracy. This data is a wake-up call – we need everyone to act. “Together we can stop parliament going backwards. Let’s build an equal parliament fit for the future.” As part of their new ‘Ask Her To Stand’ campaign, 50:50 is installing a ‘push for equality’ panic button outside of parliament to raise awareness about gender balance.
