Six weeks ago some friends and I set up RegistHERtoVOTE – an online action group to encourage women to check they are on the electoral register and get their voices heard. And today, with 20 days to go before the electoral register closes, we launch our website and campaign officially. ‘Don’t be an April fool, vote!’ is our snappy launch day strapline.
Since we started the question we are faced with most is ‘What about men?’ and – of course – we also want men to vote. Everyone should be encouraged to use their voice, whatever their gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age or political persuasion. We all know that, that’s why we joined the Labour party. So why only women? Why specifically RegistHERtoVote?
As Harriet Harman has brought to our attention, 9.1 million of us did not vote in 2010. Of course, that is a staggeringly large number; it is the population of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland keeping quiet on polling day.
We are not, however, talking about a ‘women’s vote’. I would like to think that like me, my fellow woman will choose the Labour party – the party that will protect the NHS, build more homes and end the bedroom tax. But women are not a homogenous group that will all turn out for the Labour party, the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives – and that is fine. We won’t all vote the same way because we don’t all face the same problems or have the same ideology. But there is one aspect in which we are the same and it’s the reason behind our campaign. Across society women’s voices are not heard as often or as loudly as those of our male counterparts.
Women do not participate in business, politics or leadership roles as often as men – and this happens across industry and society. There are just three female Editors of national newspapers, only 22 per cent of FTSE 100 board members are women and in Parliament we are still outnumbered by men five to one. Even in professions dominated by women like teaching in which women make up nearly three-quarters, leadership roles are male-dominated – only 36 per cent of headteachers are women.
In most of these cases we are moving in the right direction – in 2010 21 FTSE 100 companies had no women on their boards, now that number is just three. Forty-three per cent of parliamentary candidates across the major parties are women and in the Labour party that is even higher at 57 per cent. Our party has made huge strides in putting women in to parliament and they have done amazing things while there. Just look at some of the Labour women who leave their seats this week –Tessa Jowell, Glenda Jackson, Hazel Blears and Anne McGuire – I could go on and on.
Our party has achieved this by telling Labour women that they need to participate – whether it is through all-women shortlists or LWN training – the message is clear. Take part; be heard. And that is what our campaign is about – encouraging those who don’t vote to take the first step. To realise that their voices are important – to tick a box and see that it really can change things.
We have had fantastic support from men and women in the party – including from Sarah Brown, Gloria de Piero, Stella Creasy, Amy Lamé, Val Shawcross and Helen Hayes. But we need more help – we need your help. Registration closes on 20 April and it is supposedly easier than ever. It is all online – you do not have to sign or post any forms. But the changes means that even if you think you are on the register you may not be – so it is important to check. And once you have done that, sign our pledge and get five of people you know to do the same.
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For more information visit our website www.RegistHERtoVOTE.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @RegistHERtoVote