Latest News:

Lets celebrate - wpradio.co.uk is building a significant audience. We are getting over 1,500 visits a month, around 65 visits a day. And that's people who really listen.

Thanks to Pete Cook of Screen Space and Paul Foulsham of MagStar

John Bercow on women's human rights

Listen to John Bercow MP talk movingly of women's human rights in our International Parliaments section

Welcome to Daisy Ayliffe

Daisy is our new International Producer who is going to be reporting on women's health issues

Board meeting

You can read the minutes of the WP Radio
March 2008 Board meeting here

PDF document opens in new window

British Library to archive
WP Radio interviews

The British Library web Archive team will be archiving interviews on wpradio.co.uk

Our interviews will be an important record of the work of women poiticians in Westminster for historians. Thanks to The British Library.

Thank you!

Thanks to all our supporters:
Boni Sones, Executive Producer of
WP Radio has been nominated for Political Journalist of the Year
in this year’s Dods & Scottish Widows Women in Public Life Awards.
It's all down to the team.

You can read about us in:

Media Guardian

The Daily Telegraph

WP Radio shortlisted for Channel 4 Award

Thanks to all for the nomination wpradio.co.uk has had for the Channel 4 Political Awards to be announced in January 2008. We are on the short-list in the Hansard Democracy Section.

The British Library web Archive team will be archiving interviews on wpradio.co.uk

Welcome to Women's Parliamentary Radio

Women's Parliamentary Radio will be broadcasting interviews with women MPs of all parties. All the interviews will be pre-recorded and put on the website as reports which can be "streamed” and listened to immediately or downloaded as podcasts so that they can be listened to later.

There are two sets of reports, those that we have recorded ourselves and links to other recordings which have been kindly provided by BBC Parliament.

Our longer interviews are "chaptered" with music allowing you to stop and listen to more later, or you can listen through each section to the very end.



The Oona King Diaries Oona King, is credited with writing a frank, authentic and genuinely humerous book on her time as an MP in Westminster. She was elected as the MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in 1997 along with 100 other Labour women, one of only 239 women ever to be elected to Parliament. She achieved significant change while she was there on issues such as housing, landmines and the prevention of genocide. Oona's remarkable social values were given her by her Jewish mother Hazel and her father Preston. She lost her seat to George Galloway, of the Respect Party, in 2005. As part of the wpradio.co.uk celebration of 90 years since women got the vote, Oona reads from her diaries and is interviewed by Boni Sones. Sound engineer is Pete Cook of Screenspace. "The Oona King Diaries - House Music" is published by Bloomsbury, £12.99. Copyright Oona King	Oona King reads from her diaries Part 1 PLAY or DOWNLOAD (File size 38MB)
	Oona King reads from her diaries Part 2 PLAY or DOWNLOAD (File size 22MB)



Baroness Shirley Williams The Liberal Democrat Peer, Shirley Williams, has had a distinguished career in British politics. She was a member of the Wilson and Callaghan Governments in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1981 she co-founded the Social Democratic Party, becoming the first MP elected for the SDP in 1981. She is now writing her autobiography to be published next year. As the daughter of the renowned feminist Vera Brittan, it will no doubt contain many gems on British political history. Shirley has just delivered the annual Women's Library speech celebrating 90 years since women got the vote. Here she tells Boni Sones, what she thinks of women's political progress throughout the World.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 17MB approx 3.5 mins Cable/DSL



Caroline Spelman MP - Conservative Caroline Spelman is the Chairman of the Conservative Party and has been the MP for Meriden since 1997. As a working mother she says her children are her top priority. She is working with the Conservative Women's Organisation to challenge Society's attitude to violence against women. In her West Midlands constituency she has helped set up a charity called MABL (Make a Better Life) to help women affected by violence access services. Now she is taking on the issue of stalking, to ensure the police, policy makers, and government realise what a serious crime it is and how it can, in some cases, lead to murder. She is interviewed by Boni Sones.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 17MB approx 3.5 mins Cable/DSL



Nadine Dorries MP - Conservative Nadine Dorries the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire is at the forefront of a campaign to reduce the time limit on abortions. As a former nurse, she is a passionate advocate of a 20 week limit. She is interviewed by Brian Shallcross of GCap media.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 2.5MB approx 30 secs Cable/DSL



Charles Walker MP - Conservative Charles Walker the Conservative MP for Broxbourne, has been trying to get more support for victims of rape. He's held an Adjournment Debate in the Commons this week on the issue and is working across party to ensure more resources are given to rape crisis centres, and to improve the rape conviction rates for reported offences. He is interviewed by Brian Shallcross of GCap media. Thanks to GCap for the interview.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 5MB approx 1 min Cable/DSL



Theresa May MP - Conservative The Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Theresa May, has told wpradio.co.uk that she thinks debate in the Chamber is sometimes too confrontational. While she supported her leader, David Cameron, for being robust in Prime Ministers Questions, she said she was disappointed that The Leader of the House, Harriet Harman, chose to be confrontational in the recent International Women's Day debate. Boni Sones spoke to her.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 7MB approx 1.5 mins Cable/DSL



Anne McGuire MP Anne McGuire, the Labour MP for Stirling and the Minister for Disabled People found time out from her ministerial duties to attend the launch of the Jessops Parliamentary photo competition. She was one of a number of MPs who had taken poignant pictures of people and places on their trips abroad. Anne's picture was called "Flowers for the lost: at Auschwitz Birkenau", which she visited with school children from her constituency. Boni Sones spoke to her as the exhibition was launched. www.jessops.com/parliament will tell you more.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 4MB approx 1 min Cable/DSL



Gwyneth Dunwoody MP WP Radio would like to pay tribute to the Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, who has died aged 77. She was the longest serving female MP in Parliament and had been the MP for Crewe and Nantwich since 1974. She was known as a "fighter" and chaired the Transport Select Committee where she stood up for MPs rights. Hear her interview with Mark D'Arcy of the BBC in June last year.



ERS Debate The Government's long awaited report on "The Reform of Voting Systems" has been greeted with mixed reactions from those who have long been advocating a change in the way we elect our MPs to Westminster. Reformers say that the current voting system of FPTP - First Past the Post - discriminates against women and ethnic minorities in favour of the sitting candidate - overwhelming white males. In this special WP Radio documentary debate, sponsored by the Electoral Reform Society, we asked MPs from all parties why they are or are not in favour of electoral reform. The debate is Chaired by Jackie Ashley of the Guardian and BBC. Round the table the MPs are Chris Huhne, Shadow Home Affairs Spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, Caroline Spelman Chairman of the Conservative Party, the Labour MP Stephen Pound and academic Professor Nina Fishman who sits on the ERS Board.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 25MB approx 5.5 mins Cable/DSL



Dawn Butler MP The Labour MP for Brent, Dawn Butler, has been visiting play facilities in her constituency with local councillors to see what a difference £1 million of new funding will make to the area. Brent was given the £1 million by the government as one of 43 new "playbuilder" authorities. It's part of a £235 million government investment on children's play. Boni Sones spoke to her at the Villiers Road site, with local councillors Lesley Jones, Mary Arnold and Harry Singh.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 9.5MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL



Lynne Featherstone MP Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green is her Party’s spokesperson for young people and equalities. She is said to be a tough politician, and has established a reputation as a national blogger of note. Lynne also uses Facebook and Flickr on her website www.lynnefeatherstone.org. Boni Sones spoke to Lynne about her new brief and her formidable campaigning instincts.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 16MB approx 3.5 mins Cable/DSL



Judy Mallaber MP - Labour Judy Mallaber the Labour MP for Amber Valley in Wales has been at the forefront of work in the Commons to eliminate the gender pay gap. There's still a 17 per cent difference among women's full-time salaries and that of men, and this rises to 40 per cent for those working part-time. In London it stands at 25 per cent. Judy sits on the Women and Work Commission and has recently led a Select Committee inquiry and report into what more can be done to make faster progress. The Report "Jobs for Girls", concluded that the Government should be doing more to keep the issue high on its list of priorities across departments. Boni Sones spoke to Judy about her work, ideals, and ambitions as an MP.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 16MB approx 3.5 mins Cable/DSL



Women MPs celebrate International Women's Day Barbara Follett MP and David Davis MP Women and men MPs across party sung marching songs and Jerusalem to celebrate International Women's Day and 90 years of women and the vote. They laid flowers at the statue of the suffragetter Emily Pankhurst, which is still outside Parliament, and then walked into the Commons to commemorate the life of Emily Wilding Davison, the suffragette who died trying to get votes for women. Boni Sones joined them.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 20MB approx 4 mins Cable/DSL



Barbara Keeley MP - Labour Barbara Keeley the Labour MP for Worsley spoke of her concern for women to be better represented in Parliament.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 5MB approx 1 mins Cable/DSL



WP Radio mentioned in the International Women's Day debate WP Radio was mentioned in the International Women's Day debate in the House of Commons Chamber. The Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire Jo Swinson, thinks we're cool. We think she is too. Thank you Jo. The Leader of the House Harriet Harman MP, The Shadow Minister for Women, Theresa May MP and others paid tribute to women all over the World. It is highly recommended viewing. You can see the video clip here on our Face To Face Videos page.

Here's the transcript of the relevant passage from Hansard

Jo Swinson: I thank the hon. Lady for that further information about the event.

It is also important to note that better representation of women changes the issues that are discussed. I highly recommend an excellent book called “Women in Parliament” by Boni Sones and the hon. Member for Luton, South (Margaret Moran), which chronicles interviews with many women MPs. I read it a few months after my election and found it contained a few tips...

Margaret Moran: I thank the hon. Lady for that unanticipated plug and for her support for the follow-on project that Boni Sones and I have been involved in—women’s parliamentary radio—through which we can provide unmediated information about women in Parliament and about what we are doing, rather than the stereotypes about women in this place that are often promulgated in the media.

Jo Swinson: The hon. Lady is absolutely right; the project is an excellent one that deserves support and its website is www.wpradio.co.uk. I would certainly encourage hon. Members to become involved with that excellent project.

Continues...



International Women's Day Mo Mowlam MP (Labour 1987-2001) WP Radio is celebrating International Women's Day by releasing this five minute extract of one of the last political interviews the Labour politician Mo Mowlam gave. Mo has given permission for the whole one hour interview to be available after the next General Election as part of an audio archive held at the British Library with women politicians. Mo Mowlam, Labour MP for Redcar between 1987-2001, oversaw the talks which led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. She had the conversation with broadcast journalist Linda Fairbrother in her garden in August 2004 a year before she died for the book: Women In Parliament: The New Suffragettes. In this extract she talks of the Blair's Babe picture and why young women should get involved in politics. 90 years since Women got the vote we thought it fitting to release it now. Happy International Women's Day Mo!	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 4.5MB approx 1 min Cable/DSL



Diana Wallis MEP - Liberal Democrat Vice President of the European Parliament The British Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, Diana Wallis is Vice President of the European Parliament. Diana is the first British female of any party to be elected to this position. Her roots in politics began in 1994 as a councillor on Humberside County Council. She became an MEP in 1999. In Europe Diana, a solicitor, is a spokesperson on the Legal Affairs Committee, she is also a full member of the Petitions Committee, in which she has championed citizen friendly legislation. On a flying visit to Westminster, she snatched a few moments to talk to Boni Sones and admitted her early fears of chairing those huge committee meetings.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 12MB approx 2.5 mins Cable/DSL

Channel 4 Political Awards

The WP Radio team was nominated for the Hansard Society Democracy Award at the Channel 4 Political Awards this year presented by Jon Snow. Our congratualtions to Operation Black Vote which won and our thanks to the Hansard Society and Channel 4.

Congratulations to our team: Pete Cook, sound engineer, Paul Foulsham of MagStar for the website design. Our journalists: Linda Fairbrother, Anne Garvey, Deborah McGurran. Our Chair: Jackie Ashley. Production assistants: Dan Beagle, Sophie Kainradl and Lucy Fairbrother.

See clip of
WP Radio featured in the 2008 Hansard Society Democracy Award on Channel 4

Click to play video



Sal Brinton - Liberal Democrats Sal Brinton is a leading Liberal Democrat at local and national level. She is the Party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Watford and has been involved in politics for 30 years. She has been a County Councillor and a PPC. Sal is now standing for a winnable seat and is helping the Liberal Democrats to train women who want to become parliamentary candidates. So what tips do women need to help them get selected for a seat and why should they stand for one they are not likely to win? Boni Sones talked to Sal.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 15MB approx 3 mins Cable/DSL


Andy Williamson eDemocracy Programme Director, Hansard Society "WPR calls itself "the Woman's Hour of Westminster", in reference to the long-running BBC Radio 4 series. But it isn't a traditional radio station, it's a website that provides online streaming and downloads of audio anywhere, anytime. This is a really powerful form of eDemocracy that is often ignored and overlooked in the conversation. It's a good example of a clearly targeted niche product that has harnessed the internet to overcome the significant barriers to entry that exist for traditional broadcast media. In doing so, it provides a rich source of information to an audience that could not possibly be reached by a traditional radio station. "WPR is just one of many examples of why eDemocracy remains a contestable discourse and why that is a good thing. By keeping the definition fluid we allow people to innovate, coming up with ideas beyond labels and silos. And that's a good thing for democracy.” Thanks Andy for that glowing tribute. Read our WP Radio Newsletter written by our intern Lucy Fairbrother, telling you of a year in our life.



Women in the World Today Theresa May MP has launched a new report on the Conservaitve Party's priorities for women in the UK. “Women in the World Today” puts down the foundation on which the Party’s women’s policy will be built. Four Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidates: Flick Drummond, Lorraine Fullbrook, Helen Grant and Penny Mordaunt told Boni Sones of the issues that confront women in their constituencies.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 10MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL

Charlotte Leslie Charlotte Leslie, is the Conservative Party’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bristol North West. She has already established a name for herself as a Guardian young blogger, and for speaking up on the under achievement of boys at school and the feminisation of Society. So is blogging or old fashioned 'door knocking' the best way to engage young voters? Boni Sones spoke to her.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 9MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL



Vera Baird QC MP - Solicitor General Vera Baird, the Labour MP for Redcar, in her new role as Solicitor General is at the forefront of helping women get a fairer deal from the criminal justice system. She is working on new procedures to help women who take rape charges to trial and wants to challenge society’s myths about the nature of serious sexual violence and its impact on victims. She’s also been to Sweden recently where those who visit prostitutes can be prosecuted. Boni Sones talked to her about her work and what motivated her to take on these tough challenges.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 25MB approx 5 mins Cable/DSL



Electoral Reform Society: Women MPs The United Kingdom Parliament is waiting for a revolution. Despite the best attempts by all three parties, Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats the number of women in our Parliament is still dismally low, just under 20 per cent. Women may have had the vote for nearly 90 years but we still can’t get an equal split of male and female MPs in Westminster. In this special documentary commissioned by the Electoral Reform Society, WP Radio journalist Linda Fairbrother spoke to parliamentarians here and abroad. Amongst others, Linda talked to Sweden’s Margot Wallstrom, Vice President of the European Commission, the Spanish MEP Barbara Duhrkop, and Professor Pippa Norris, of Harvard University in the USA. The documentary lasts 33 minutes.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 29MB approx 6 mins Cable/DSL



Joan Ruddock MP - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Joan Ruddock MP is the Minister in charge of Climate Change, Waste and Recycling and Biodiversity in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She finds her job demanding but also deeply rewarding. Here she talks to Boni Sones about the issues she is working on to cut down the CO2 emissions we create, including new guidelines for manufacturers of white goods.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 18MB approx 4 mins Cable/DSL

Make 2008 the Year in which you cut your carbon footprint: To help people take action against climate change in 2008, the Government has developed the Act on CO2 online carbon calculator which enables people to work out the size of their carbon footprint and provides them with a personal action plan to reduce it. Individuals are responsible for more than 40 per cent of CO2 emissions in the UK - mainly from energy use in the home and travel - but there are many simple, low cost ways to cut down the amount of CO2 emissions we create. Check how you rate on the carbon calculator.



Women supporting Women Emily Wilding Davison It is 90 years since women over 30 were first given the right to vote. In 2008, Women's Parliamentary Radio is campaigning to get a plaque to the miltant suffragette Emily Wilding Davison at St George's Church in Bloomsbury where her funeral procession started and a statue of her in Westminster. Writer and Producer Barbara Gorna has the sash Emily was trying to pin to the King's horse when she was killed and she told Boni Sones why she wants it to be known Emily's death was a tragic accident not suicide.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 8MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL



Women supporting Women In WP Radio's new series: "Women supporting Women" our reporter Anne Garvey talks to two women MPs who are helping to change women's lives inside and outside Westminster.

Jo Swinson MP Jo Swinson is the Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire. She is the youngest MP in Westminster and her parties equality spokes person. She has championed issues such as the pay gap and also become a respected campaigner displaying her environmental concerns on issues such as un-necessary packaging.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 9MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL

Eleanor Laing MP Eleanor Laing is the Conservative MP for Epping Forest. In July 2007 Eleanor was appointed Shadow Minister for Justice. She's previously worked as Shadow Minister for Children, and Women and Equality. She has a son Matthew who was born one week after the 2001 General Election. Eleanor believes women can stand up for themselves at the dispatch box, and has a few good tips for Prospective Parliamentary Candidates.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 9MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL



Women supporting Women In WP Radio's new series: "Women supporting Women" our intern reporter Sophie Kainradl goes in search of women in other campaigning roles who are helping to change women's lives.

Joy Greasley on the Women's Institute The Women’s Institute was founded in 1915 with two aims: to revitalise the rural community and encourage more women to help with food production during World War I. Today the WI describes itself as ‘a modern voice for today’s woman’ and is even suggesting that brothels should be licensed in order to protect prostitutes. But can an organisation with such a strong sense of tradition ever really represent such a great diversity of women? WP Radio reporter Sophie Kainradl talks to Joy Greasley, head of the WI’s Training Committee, to ask how the WI is living up to its new image and if it really has as much power as its slogan suggests?	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 5MB approx 1 mins Cable/DSL

Frances O'Grady on the TUC Frances O’Grady became the Deputy General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress in 2003. She is the first woman to hold such a senior position in the organisation. Frances is a staunch campaigner for women’s rights in the work place, from equal pay to better maternity cover. She told WPR Radio reporter Sophie Kainradl what the government must do to improve the lives of female workers, why women make great politicians and how society desperately needs to change to cater for working mothers.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 9MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL

Paul Goggins MP Paul Goggins MP, the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, has been at the forefront of pioneering complementary medicine on the NHS. In his previous role as Health Minister for Northern Ireland, he announced a new £200,000 fund to pilot the integration of complementary medicine into the NHS. He said that these therapies should be made available to all people, not just people who can afford to pay privately. The pilot project is being operated by Get Well UK and will aim to treat 700 patients initially. Boni Sones, went to Ulster to speak to four patients and their health practitioners to find out how the Get Well UK programme was improving their health.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 16MB approx 3.5 mins Cable/DSL

Dawn Butler MP Dawn Butler, the MP for Brent has just been given a new job by the Prime Minster Gordon Brown as one of six Vice-Chairs of the Labour Party. She will work directly to Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman on youth issues and be involved with the new ministerial team at the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Dawn's enthusiasm for campaigning is infectious. Boni Sones talked to her about her new role and her parliamentary career.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 11MB approx 2.5 mins Cable/DSL

Caroline Spelman MP The Chairman of the Conservative Party, Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden, has been working with others in her party to address the issue of forced marriages. She says women feel solidarity with others across party to stop women being exploited in this way. The Conservatives and Labour have supported Lord Lester's (LD) Forced Marriage Bill. This aims to outlaw forced marriages as well as supporting people who are victims of the practice. WPRadio journalist Linda Fairbrother asked Caroline how big a problem forced marriages were in Britain?	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 10MB approx 2 mins Cable/DSL

Margaret Moran MP Margaret Moran, the Labour MP for Luton South, Chair's the All Party Domestic Violence Group. After talking online to women survivors of domestic violence through a project called "Womenspeak" MPs have now turned their attention to children who experience violence in their own home. They joined with children's charities and Women's Aid to listen directly to children's voices through an online project called "KIDSPEAK" which Margaret helped shape. The aim is to provide a safe, anonymous and secure online environment where children and young people affected by domestic violence can share their experience with the police, judges and parliamentarians. She explains in her own words why the project is so important.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 6MB approx 1.5 mins Cable/DSL

Baroness Uddin Baroness Uddin is a Labour peer who has dedicated her life to public social reform and equal rights. She was appointed to the Lords in 1998 for her work on women and disability rights where she has continued to champion diversity issues and issues affecting the Bangladeshi community. She's worked on the problems surrounding forced marriages and more recently the collapse of the First Solutions company, which was involved in money transfers from Bangladesh. Boni Sones spoke to her at length about her 30 year career in politics first in the community and now as a campaigner in the Lords. She started with her childhood in Bangladesh.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 16MB approx 3.5 mins Cable/DSL

Hazel Blears MP Gordon Brown's new Cabinet has five women in it. The new Home Secretary is Jacqui Smith, the first woman to hold this important office. Harriet Harman, fresh from her deputy leadership victory, is Leader of the Commons. The Leader of the Lords is Baroness Ashton of Upholland. Ruth Kelly moves to Secretary of State for Transport, and Hazel Blears, the former Party Chairwoman, is to take over Communities and Local Government. WP Radio journalist Anne Garvey caught up with her as she was saying goodbye to her former colleagues and before she knew of her new role.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 6MB approx 1.5 mins Cable/DSL

A Day In The Life The Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, Emily Thornberry, has a tough job balancing work and family life, but she says she wouldn't swap being a backbench MP for the world. She, like other women MPs, believes the real life experiences of their constituents are helping to enhance and inform government policy. WP Radio journalist Anne Garvey asked her to talk about a "Day in her life".	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 19MB approx 4 mins Cable/DSL

A Rising Tide Women in the UK have been at the forefront of helping women internationally to progress their careers in politics. Many have to struggle to get their voices heard and suffer at the hands of oppressive regimes. No more so than in modern Uganda. A book "A Rising Tide", tells the histories of modern women politicians there from the 1940s through to the present time. "A Ugandan women's Struggle for a Public Voice 1940-2004" is published by Forwode. Here Sue Woodsford, tells how she supported one of those women, Rhoda Kalema, when she was in prison. Sue begins by reading Rhoda's story. Other stories in the book are read in this one hour radio documentary by Patricia Lashely, of Momentum Arts, and Boni Sones.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 19MB approx 4 mins Cable/DSL

Flexible working practices The MP for Solihull, Liberal Democrat Lorely Burt, has secured a debate on workplace diversity to promote her 10 Minute Rule Bill which promotes flexible working practices. She told the Trade and Industry Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, that she wants to see more sensitive employment policies for ethnic minority women, other minorities, and also for women generally. WPRadio journalist Anne Garvey asked her to explain why she thought new laws were needed?	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 7MB approx 1.5 mins Cable/DSL

Are women fairly represented at Westminster? Women MPs still only make up 20 per cent of MPs across party and it could be several hundreds of years before we have a fifty fifty gender balanced Parliament. Boni Sones, asked feminist academic, Joni Lovenduski, Professor of Politics at Birkbeck College at the University of London, why women's representation at Westminster was making such slow progress?	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 4.5MB approx 1 min Cable/DSL

Women Championing Women So what have women in Parliament been doing to champion issues of concern to women in the Country? Well if you asked them they’d say quite a lot. Sally Keeble for Labour, Caroline Spelman for the Conservatives, and Sandra Gidley of the Liberal Democrats have been talking to Linda Fairbrother about how Women MPs are helping us.	PLAY or DOWNLOAD File size 14MB approx 3 mins Cable/DSL

Theresa May Interview On the 23rd November the Conservatives 'Women2Win' campaign celebrates its first birthday. So how effective has the campaign been? It has had its fair share of negative headlines but some positive ones too as more women creep onto the Cameron 'A list' of candidates. Women now make up almost 40 per cent of the candidates chosen to fight the most winnable seats. Yet even the organisers admit "there is still so much to do." Boni Sones talked to Theresa May as she travelled back from one event on the train.	PLAY