Jump to content

Women's Equality Party

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the UK political party. For the New York based political party, see Women's Equality Party (New York). For other parties with similar names, see Women's Party.

Women's Equality Party
AbbreviationWE
WEP
LeaderMandu Reid
FoundersSandi Toksvig
Catherine Mayer
Founded2 March 2015; 9 years ago (2015-03-02)
Dissolved17 November 2024; 33 days ago (17 November 2024)
HeadquartersKemp House
152–160 City Road
London
EC1V 2NX[1]
Membership (October 2024)More than 5,600 members (and around 24,000 registered supporters)[2]
Ideology
Colours  Purple
  Green
WSPU colours
Website
www.womensequality.org.uk

The Women's Equality Party (WEP) was a feminist political party set up in the United Kingdom in 2015. The idea was conceived by Catherine Mayer and Sandi Toksvig at the Women of the World Festival, when they concluded that there was a need for a party to campaign for gender equality to the benefit of all. The launch meeting was on 28 March 2015 under the title "The Women's Equality Party needs you. But probably not as much as you need the Women's Equality Party". The party's full policy was launched by its then-leader Sophie Walker at Conway Hall on 20 October 2015. In January 2020, Mandu Reid took over as the party's leader.

The party had one principal authority councillor on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, elected in 2024.[3] It also had two seats on Congleton Town Council, where Kay Wesley served as the party's first Town Mayor,[4] and had a seat on Stinsford Parish Council.[5]

History

[edit]
Catherine Mayer
Sandi Toksvig
Co-founders of the Women's Equality Party

On 2 March 2015, author and journalist Catherine Mayer attended a "Women in Politics" event at the Women of the World Festival (at the Southbank Centre in central London). The panel was chaired by Jude Kelly (Artistic Director, Southbank Centre), and the panel consisted of Katie Ghose (CEO, Electoral Reform Society), Margot James (Conservative), Stella Creasy (Labour) and Jo Swinson (Lib Dem).[6] Having watched the panelists agreeing collegially with each other on almost every point, Mayer stood up and said, "What about if I found a Women's Equality Party, tell you what, I'm going to go to the bar afterwards, anyone interested in discussing this come and see me."[7]

On 8 March 2015 (International Women's Day), at the same festival, comedian Sandi Toksvig presented an event entitled "Sandi Toksvig's Mirth Control: Stand Up and Be Counted".[8] Interviewed by Jenni Murray on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, Toksvig said: "I had a fantasy cabinet of women, and I didn't care which party they came from, we had Doreen Lawrence as our Home Secretary. Can you imagine anything more wonderful? We had paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson as our Sports Minister, and I asked them to put forward practical suggestions. The world is in a parlous state, 9.1 million women failed to vote in the last election, we need to attract them, we also need to attract the more than 7 million men who didn't vote. Why are people not engaged in politics, because I don't think that the people standing represent the diversity of this country."[9] Mayer phoned Toksvig, and the two agreed to become co-founders of the party.[10]

The first meeting of the as yet unnamed party was on 28 March 2015.[11][6][12] Speakers included: Suzanne Moore, who had previously stood for parliament as an independent candidate; Sophie Walker, who spoke on careers, parenting and ensuring that both parents have opportunities in both; Halla Gunnarsdóttir, who described a women's equality party in Iceland; and Hannah McGrath, who discussed the practicalities of starting a party. The meeting was covered on Woman's Hour[9] and by the press, including Glamour magazine[13] and the London Evening Standard.[14]

External videos
TEDx talk by Sandi Toksvig
video icon A political party for women's equality via TEDx Talks on YouTube[15]

A second meeting took place at Conway Hall on 18 April, and included Sandi Toksvig, Mandy Colleran, Nimko Ali, Shabnam Shabazi and Stella Duffy as speakers.[7]

On 30 April, Toksvig announced that she was leaving her position as compère of Radio 4's The News Quiz in order to help set up the new political party, which was now named the Women's Equality Party.[16][17][18] Speaking at the Hay Festival in May, Toksvig reported that since she had announced the move on BBC One's The One Show, she had been subjected to a significant level of abuse online.[19]

The Women's Equality Party was registered with the Electoral Commission on 20 July 2015.[20] On 22 July, Reuters journalist Sophie Walker was announced as the party's first leader.[10][21] Walker went on to stand in Shipley at the 2017 general election, but lost to Conservative Party MP and men's rights activist Philip Davies.[22]

Leadership contest 2018

[edit]

The party announced its first leadership contest in December 2017. Nominations opened on 5 January 2018, and closed on 24 January.[23] Two candidates were nominated: interim leader Sophie Walker[24] and Magda Devas, who had previously run for the Green Party in the Streatham Wells ward in the Lambeth London Borough Council election of 2010 and that of 2014.[25] The ballot opened on 14 February 2018, and closed on 6 March; Walker was declared the winner on 8 March.[23]

Candidate Votes % Sources
Magda Devas 550 9.90 [26]
Sophie Walker 5,002 90.10 [26]

Walker had been due to serve a five-year term until 2023[27] but resigned 10 months later, stating "sometimes in order to lead, you have to get out of the way".[22] She was replaced by interim leader Mandu Reid, the party's national spokesperson on equal parenting and caregiving, its candidate in the 2018 Lewisham East by-election, and the CEO of period poverty charity The Cup Effect.[28]

Decision to dissolve party

[edit]

In October 2024, it was reported that the party's founders planned to dissolve the WEP pending the approval of the party's membership in November, citing financial difficulties and changes in the political environment. The party then had about 5,600 members and 24,000 registered supporters.[2] This reportedly followed a failed attempt by the leadership of the WEP and the Green Party of England and Wales to formalise a partnership, with the motion to allow this failing to muster support at the Green Party conference.[29]

At a special conference on 17 November 2024, 78% of members voted to dissolve the party, surpassing the 75% threshold for this vote to pass.[30]

Political aims and views

[edit]

The party's mission statement opened with: "Equality for women isn't a women's issue. When women fulfil their potential, everyone benefits. Equality means better politics, a more vibrant economy, a workforce that draws on the talents of the whole population and a society at ease with itself".[31]

  • Equal representation in politics and business;
  • Equal representation in education;
  • Equal pay;
  • Equal treatment of women by and in the media;
  • Equal parenting rights;
  • An end to violence against women.

— Women's Equality Party, six stated goals of the party[21]

Describing the six aims, Mayer said: "It's a very narrow palette, we're not looking to be a party that can answer questions about what should be done in the Ukraine, or trying to have a platform on the environment or anything else, we are focusing absolutely narrowly on that equality agenda."[7] Party leader Walker agreed: "We won't have policies on other issues. We are going to concentrate, laser-like, on all of the above, to make them happen. And we will welcome people from any other political party that agrees with our values of diversity and inclusivity to work with us."[32] However, Walker promised that the party's working definition of the word "woman", as well as more detail of the party's policies, would be covered in its policy launch, following consultation with party members.[33]

Early indications of what to expect included Walker's call for a gender quota system to select MPs at the following two elections so that equal representation could be achieved in the House of Commons by 2025.[34] Walker also called for six weeks' paid leave, at 90% pay, for both parents after having a baby, as well as an extra 10 months of shared leave at statutory pay.[35] Writing in the Daily Mirror, Toksvig stated that the party further proposed that industrial tribunal costs be reduced from over £1,000 to "£50 for those who can afford it" in order to "empower all women to speak out about sexism at work."[36]

The party launched its full set of policies on 20 October 2015 at Conway Hall.[37][38]

First party conference

[edit]

The inaugural Women's Equality Party conference took place in Manchester on 25–27 November 2016,[39][40] with opening speeches by founders Catherine Mayer and Sandi Toksvig on the first day,[41] and Sophie Walker's leader's speech on the second day.[42]

Motions carried at the conference include: a motion to expand the UK's definition of hate crime to include misogyny; a motion to strengthen the legislation for carers who need flexible working arrangements; and a motion to fully decriminalise abortion across the UK (the current Abortion Act excludes Northern Ireland).[43]

Other speakers at the Conference included CEO of the Young Women’s Trust Carole Easton, psychologist Carolyn Kagan, former President of the National Union of Students Shakira Martin, sexual harassment lawyer Dr. Ann Olivarius, and Swedish politician Gudrun Schyman.

Additional party goal

[edit]

A seventh goal of the party was added to the existing six at the party's first conference.

  • Equality in healthcare and medical research.
    — Women's Equality Party, additional goal of the party.[44]

Second party conference

[edit]

The second party conference took place in Kettering in September 2018.[45] Among the motions passed was one supporting the People's Vote campaign calling for a public vote on the final Brexit deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union.[46]

Abortion

[edit]

The party supports removing abortion from criminal law and supporting safe access to abortions.[47]

Position regarding gender self-identification

[edit]

In November 2022, the party voted in support of a motion to back gender self-identification. Of the party members who took part in the vote at the party's conference, 138 voted in favour of gender self-identification, while 29 opposed, and 5 abstained.[48]

The party's name

[edit]

The party's name was "debated and discussed at two public meetings".[49] When Toksvig was asked why the party was named the Women's Equality Party, rather than just the Equality Party, she answered: "Because there is a huge issue, women are certainly not equal.... It's time that women, finally, after all these years, what is it, almost a hundred years since we finally got the vote, it's time we stepped up and took our equal place in society." She also stated the party's motto, "Equality is better for everybody".[9] Mayer has also stated, "I'm very happy with the name: all genders are joining us and I hope they continue to. More than half the population is living in inequality and that is genuinely not good for everyone, economically or culturally."[50]

Elections

[edit]
Members of the Women's Equality Party at Trafalgar Square during the Pride in London 2016 parade.
Members of the Women's Equality Party at Trafalgar Square during the Pride in London 2016 parade

2015

[edit]

The party did not field any candidates in the 2015 general election, but planned to do so when the next election was assumed to be in 2020.[51][52] Walker told BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement programme that the party would be taking a non-partisan approach to elections, stating that "We will be undertaking consultations with our members and deciding which seats to target".[53] Figures from the party suggested that there was a possibility that an existing Member of Parliament (MP) might defect to the party before the party contested an election, citing the example of how the UK Independence Party got its first MPs.[7] although this did not happen. Initially Walker neither ruled in or out the possibility of a WEP candidate in the 2016 London mayoral election: "We'd like to. It's a £20,000 losable deposit, though. If you're Zac Goldsmith that's not such a big deal but if a woman from a normal background wants to speak out for women and do it with the mayorship, automatically she's almost excluded". However, in October 2015, the party announced its intention to field candidates in the 2016 London Assembly election.[54]

2016

[edit]

Following various fundraisers, the party was able to field candidates in the 2016 London elections[55] (Walker in the Mayoral election, plus candidates for the London Assembly);[56] Scottish Parliament election, Glasgow region (Anne Beetham, Susan Mackay, Ruth Wilkinson, Calum Shepherd, Penelope Haddrill, Carol Young)[57] and Lothian region (Lee Chalmers, Jennifer Royston, Catriona MacDonald and Abigail Herrmann);[58][59] and the Welsh Assembly election in South Wales Central (Sharon Lovell, Emma Rose, Sarah Rees and Ruth Williams).[56][60]

Supporters of the WEP's election bid included: Emma Thompson,[61][62] Lily Allen, Hugh Quarshie, Tanya Moodie, Philippa Perry, Jack Monroe,[63] Jo Brand, Rosie Boycott[64] and Caitlin Moran.[65]

The WEP did not win any seats in the elections: Walker gained 53,055 votes (2.04%) in the first round of voting for London mayor.[66] The party's best result was on the London-wide list where it finished sixth with 91,772 votes (3.5%).[67]

Anne Beetham gained 2,091 votes (0.8%) in Glasgow[68] and Lee Chalmers gained 3,877 votes (1.2%) in Lothian.[69][70] Overall the WEP obtained 5,968 votes, 0.3% of the Scottish vote.[71]

Sharon Lovell, Emma Rose, Sarah Rees and Ruth Williams gained 2,807 votes, 1.2% of the total vote in South Wales Central.[72][73]

The overall total number of votes cast for the party in Scotland, Wales and London was 350,000.[74]

2017

[edit]

Tabitha Morton from Netherton stood in the Liverpool City Region mayoral election.[75] She came seventh, receiving 4,287 first round votes (1.5%).[76]

In the 2017 general election the party stood seven candidates. None were elected, and all lost their deposits. The best result among them was by Sophie Walker coming fourth in Shipley against the sitting Conservative MP Philip Davies, a men's rights and anti-political correctness campaigner.[77] The party targeted Davies's seat because of his role in blocking legislation that would have implemented better support for domestic violence victims, and because of his public comments about women, people with disabilities and LGBT people. Academics Emily Harmer and Rosalynd Southern write that: "Targeting Davies was controversial due to fears over potential vote-splitting and the fact that the WEP failed to engage with local feminist groups".[78] The full list of WEP candidates in the 2017 general election is below:

Constituency Candidate Votes % Source(s)
Hornsey and Wood Green Nimco Ali 551 0.9 [79]
Manchester Withington Sally Carr 234 0.4 [80]
Shipley Sophie Walker 1,040 1.9 [81]
Stirling Kirstein Rummery 337 0.7 [82]
Tunbridge Wells Celine Thomas 702 1.3 [83]
Vale of Glamorgan Sharon Lovell 177 0.3 [84]
Vauxhall Harini Iyengar 539 1.0 [85]

2018

[edit]

The party put up candidates in more than 30 elections in the local elections of 2018.Note 1[86] None were elected.

Mandu Reid stood as a candidate for the WEP in the 2018 Lewisham East by-election; she came fifth out of the 14 candidates, receiving 506 votes (2.3%).[87]

2019

[edit]

General election

[edit]

The party put forward three candidates at the 2019 general election, all of whom lost their deposits, due to winning a low number of votes.

Constituency Candidate Votes % Source(s)
Bury South Gemma Evans 130 0.3 [88]
Luton North Serena Laidley 149 0.3 [89]
Dover Eljai Morais 137 0.3 [90]

These constituencies have previously had an MP suspended from his respective party because of allegations of sexual assault or harassment, although all three MPs that had been accused did not seek re-election. Two prospective WEP candidates in Sheffield Hallam and the Cities of London and Westminster stood aside to support the Liberal Democrats after they agreed to implement a WEP policy to challenge two MPs, one accused of writing sexist messages online and the other of grabbing and manhandling a female environmental protester.[91]

Local elections

[edit]

The party put up candidates in more than 20 of the local elections of 2019.Note 2 The party saw its first councillor, Kay Wesley, elected. Wesley was standing as the sole Women's Equality Party candidate and received 1250 votes (a 5.7% share of the vote) to represent the East Ward on Congleton Town Council.[92][93]

2020

[edit]

In January 2020, Mandu Reid was announced as the party leader following her role as interim leader since early 2019.

2021

[edit]

Reid was the party's candidate for the 2021 London mayoral election on 6 May 2021, having replaced Sue Black, who had to withdraw for health reasons.[94] Reid finished tenth in the mayoral election with 21,182 votes (0.8%). The party also stood on the London-wide list in the 2021 London Assembly election,[95] coming fifth with 55,684 votes (2.2%), a fall compared to their previous result.

It also stood 3 candidates in the Lothian region (coming tenth with 0.3%, down 0.9% from the previous election) and 4 candidates in the Glasgow region (coming tenth with 0.3%, down 0.5% from the previous election) for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.[96][97]

2022

[edit]

The party stood 2 candidates in the 2022 City of London Corporation election, both of whom came last in their wards. Harini Iyengar received an 11.1% share of the vote in the ward of Bread Street out of 4 candidates, while Alison Smith received a 3.2% share of the vote in the ward of Portsoken out of 7 candidates.

2023

[edit]

The party stood 14 candidates in the local elections of 2023.Note 3 Kay Wesley was re-elected to Congleton Town Council for the South East Ward (925 votes, a 12.2% share and 43.3% voters supporting on multi-vote ballot) and a second party candidate, Susan Mead, elected in Congleton North East (702 votes, a 15.3% share and 45.7% voters supporting on multi-vote ballot). Wesley narrowly missed election to Cheshire East Council by 19 votes (polling 1132, an 11.5% share and 30.2% of voters choosing WEP on multi-vote ballots). WEP Candidate Stacy Hart came second in Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, with 925 votes to the Conservatives' 1000 (36.8% vote/voter share).[98]

2024

[edit]

On 8 April, Women's Equality Party candidate, Sarah Pattison was appointed to Stinsford Parish Council, Dorset, in an uncontested election.[99] In the 2024 local elections a Women's Equality Party candidate, Stacy Hart, was elected to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for the Hatch Warren & Beggarwood ward; Hart was elected with 1,659 votes (61.6%), gaining the seat from Conservatives.[100]

In the 2024 general election, the party put forward four candidates:

Constituency Candidate Votes % Source(s)
Mid and South Pembrokeshire Hanna Andersen 254 0.5% [101]
Caerfyrddin Nancy Cole 282 0.6% [101]
Congleton Kay Wesley 544 1.1% [101]
Godalming and Ash Harriet Williams 195 0.4% [101]

Membership and local organisations

[edit]

Reportedly, 1,300 people joined the party on the day that it opened up membership, which costs £4 per month.[21] In the first financial year, the party raised £512,219 in membership fees.[102] As of 13 October 2015, 65 local and regional Women's Equality Party groups had been founded,[34] and in July 2016 the party reported that it had 65,000 members.[103][104] The WEP was described as "the fastest growing political force in the UK" in a Daily Telegraph article on the party's campaigning for the May 2016 London mayoral election.[105] The party's membership reportedly grew from 25,000 to 55,000 in the month following the European Union membership referendum.[106] In September 2020, it was reported that the party's membership was 30,000.[107]

On 26 October 2024, it was reported that the party has "more than 5,600 paying members and about 24,000 registered supporters".[2]

Fundraising and donations

[edit]

The party's first fundraiser, held in front of 400 people, including businesswoman Martha Lane Fox, took place at Conway Hall on 9 June 2015.[108][109] In September that year Toksvig announced the dates for a comedy tour to raise funds for the party.[110][111] In the party's first year (ending 31 December 2015) £512,219 was raised through membership fees, £38,528 through fundraising activities and £79,212 was raised through donations.[102]

The artist Damien Hirst created a piece of work for auction entitled "Spin Drawing for Women's Equality" (2015).[112] The piece, which contained the party's colours, raised £20,000 when it was auctioned in April 2016. The artists Jake and Dinos Chapman also began a campaign, stamping the words "Womens Equality Party" onto 2p coins and then returning them into circulation.[113] (Suffragettes had also defaced pennies.[114])

In the party's second year (ending 31 December 2016) £447,946 was raised through membership fees, £35,918 through fundraising activities and £261,394 was raised through donations.[115]

Criticisms

[edit]

A year before the creation of the WEP, Suzanne Moore suggested in The Guardian that a feminist party should be formed, saying: "the false doctrine of austerity has meant that women, single mothers in particular, and public sector workers in general, have been at the frontline of this war. They have been demonised and subject to punitive cuts."[116] Writing in The Telegraph, Kate Maltby responded by saying, "My feminism is directly tied to a commitment to meritocracy and individual flourishing...if her [Moore's] grand new feminist party kicks off by nationalising private property, I'm hardly going to be able to sign up".[117]

The British edition of GQ has also accused the party of "alienating 50 per cent of the electorate", adding that, "while the WEP may aim to appeal to both female Tory voters and female Labour voters, it doesn't take away from the implicit suggestion that the party – which aims for 'diverse' membership – is still aimed almost solely at women".[118] The party has also been criticised "for being comprised mainly of white, middle-class affluent women".[119]

The International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW) have criticised the party's stance on supporting the criminalisation of commercial sex.[120] This policy has also been criticised by other women, including the journalist Abi Wilkinson.[121] The Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement (SWARM), Scot-Pep, and National Ugly Mugs, have all condemned the way then party leader, Sophie Walker spoke about a sex worker in 2018. The organisations have rejected the party's idea of criminalisation in the sex industry, with the organisations saying that they do not support increased police powers, nor enforcement against sex workers, and that criminalisation would do nothing to end poverty or give migrants better work options.[122]

The party has also been accused of being "both too ambitious and not ambitious enough", that, in order to maintain traction, it ought to concentrate on just one issue, e.g., quotas in the boardroom.[123]

Heather Brunskell-Evans, the former spokeswoman for the party on violence against women and a research fellow at King's College London,[124] was criticised in 2017 for expressing transphobic viewpoints on transgender children. Speaking on The Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4 in 2017, she argued that transgender adults should be free to define themselves as they wish, but questioned whether positive affirmation was the only way to help children expressing confusion about their gender.[125] Brunskell-Evans said that "If a child decides that it's an astronaut, one can play along with this. One doesn't have to moralise about it but quite clearly the child is not an astronaut. In fact it's incumbent upon adults who are responsible for the welfare, psychological and social and medical, of children not to go along with this story",[125] and stated her belief that recognising gender incongruence was "imposing", "abusive", and "imposing restrictions on children".[124] Subsequently, she withdrew from a King's event after protests by students, and three transgender members complained to the party that she was "promoting prejudice against the transgender community". Brunskell-Evans was investigated by the party and subsequently resigned.[125]

Electoral performance

[edit]

General elections

[edit]
Year Candidates Total votes % of total vote Change Average vote[126] Average % vote Saved Deposits Number of MPs Change
2017 7 3,580 0.01% n/a 511 0.9% 0 0 Steady
2019 3 416 0.0% n/a 139 0.3% 0 0 Steady
2024 4 1,275 0.0% n/a 319 0.6% 0 0 Steady

London Mayoral elections

[edit]
Date Popular Vote % of Vote Change Place Notes
2016 53,055 2.0% n/a 6th
2021 21,182 0.8% n/a 10th
2024 Did not contest

London Assembly elections

[edit]
Date Regional Vote % of Vote Change AMs Change
2016 91,772 3.5% n/a 0 Steady
2021 55,684 2.2% n/a 0 Steady
2024 Did not contest

National Assembly for Wales elections

[edit]
Date Regional Vote % of Vote Change AMs Change
2016 2,807 0.3% n/a 0 Steady

Scottish Parliament elections

[edit]
Date Regional Vote % of Vote Change MSPs Change
2016 5,968 0.3% n/a 0 Steady
2021 1,896 0.07% n/a 0 Steady

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "View registration - the Electoral Commission".
  2. ^ a b c Graham-Harrison, Emma (26 October 2024). "Women's Equality party founders urge members to call time after 10 years". The Observer. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Borough council elections held on Thursday 2 May 2024". Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Meet the Councillors". Congleton Town Council. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Results of Uncontested Parish Council Elections in Dorset". Dorset Council. 8 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Madberg, Astrid; Turnley, Molly (19 March 2015). "Highlights from WOW 2015: Women in Politics, 2 March 2015". Artefact Magazine. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d Milligan, Becky (23 April 2015). "The brand new Women's Equality Party: 'not standing in this election'". PM. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Sandi Toksvig's mirth control: stand up and be counted, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, 8 March 2015". Southbank Centre. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  9. ^ a b c Murray, Jenni (host); Toksvig, Sandi (guest) (30 April 2015). "Sandi Toksvig interview". Woman's Hour. 00:30 minutes in. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  10. ^ a b Cocozza, Paula (28 August 2015). "Women's Equality party founders: 'It needed doing. So we said, "Let's do it"'". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  11. ^ "The Women's Equality Party needs you". Facebook. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  12. ^ "First #WE meeting". Women's Equality Party. 2 March 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  13. ^ Alexander, Ella (2 April 2015). "Will you support the Women's Equality Party?". Glamour. Condé Nast Publications. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  14. ^ Staff writer (20 April 2015). "Londoner's Diary: Women's party is ready to be a player". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  15. ^ Sandi Toksvig (October 2016). A political party for women's equality (Video). TEDx Talks via YouTube. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
    Toksvig tells the story of how she helped start a new political party in Britain, the Women's Equality Party, with the express purpose of putting equality on the ballot.
  16. ^ Topping, Alexandra (30 April 2015). "Sandi Toksvig reveals she quit Radio 4 to set up women's rights political party". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  17. ^ Furness, Hannah (30 April 2015). "Sandi Toksvig quit The News Quiz for Women's Equality Party". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  18. ^ Guest, Katy (2 May 2015). "Sandi Toksvig's Women's Equality Party is a movement for which time has come". The Independent. Independent Print Ltd. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  19. ^ Elgot, Jessica (25 May 2015). "Sandi Toksvig: trolls are already out over plans to form Women's Equality party". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Women's Equality Party". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  21. ^ a b c Cohen, Claire (22 July 2015). "Watch out Cameron: Meet the leader of Britain's first feminist political party". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  22. ^ a b Syal, Rajeev (22 January 2019). "Women's Equality party leader Sophie Walker steps down". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Timetable". pre.ukevote.uk/we. Election portal for the Women’s Equality Party Leadership Election. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Profile: Sophie Walker". pre.ukevote.uk/we. Election portal for the Women's Equality Party Leadership Election. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Profile: Magda Devas". pre.ukevote.uk/we. Election portal for the Women's Equality Party Leadership Election. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Declaration of result: Women's Equality Party Leadership Election" (PDF). uk-engage.org. UK Engage. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Role description: Leader of the Women's Equality Party" (PDF). pre.ukevote.uk/we. Election portal for the Women's Equality Party Leadership Election. Retrieved 8 March 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  28. ^ "Women's Equality Party announces Interim Leader and London Mayoral Candidate". Women's Equality Party. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  29. ^ "Green Party Members Rejected Proposal To Join With Women's Equality Party". Politics Home. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  30. ^ Walker, Peter (17 November 2024). "Women's Equality party members vote to dissolve organisation". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  31. ^ Lyell, Carrie (30 April 2015). "Sandi Toksvig launches new political party". Diva. Millivres Prowler Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  32. ^ Walker, Sophie (24 July 2015). "Our party's going to reclaim women's equality: help us make it happen". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  33. ^ Speed, Barbara (22 September 2015). "Women's Equality Party leader: "We aim to push ourselves out of business"". New Statesman. Progressive Media International. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  34. ^ a b Mason, Rowena; Watt, Nicholas (13 October 2015). "Women's Equality party says quotas could achieve balanced Commons in 10 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  35. ^ Ashton, Emily (15 October 2015). "This new political party wants to give both parents six weeks of paid leave". BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed Inc. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  36. ^ Toksvig, Sandi (15 October 2015). "Sandi Toksvig: Bosses can turn a blind eye to sexism thanks to new rules". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  37. ^ "Women's Equality Party announces first policies and campaigns". Women's Equality Party. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  38. ^ Minter, Harriet (21 October 2015). "The Women's Equality Party launch is not a moment too soon". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  39. ^ Crerar, Pippa (24 November 2016). "Sophie Walker: 'Put a woman in a political race and she is always the outsider'". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  40. ^ "Conference 2016". Women's Equality Party. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  41. ^ Women's Equality Party (2016). Let's Make History Together: Conference Programme (PDF). Manchester: Women's Equality Party. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2017.
  42. ^ "Sophie Walker's leadership speech". Women's Equality Party. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016. Video.
  43. ^ Grant, Katie (27 November 2016). "Make misogyny a hate crime and decriminalise abortion, Women's Equality Party demands". i News. London. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  44. ^ Peaker, Hannah (chief of staff for WE) (29 November 2016). "Why health equality is the next goal for the Women's Equality party". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  45. ^ Hinsliff, Gaby (7 September 2018). "Is the Women's Equality party too sensible for these extreme times?". The Guardian. Opinion. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  46. ^ "Conference 2018 Motion Outcomes". womensequality.org.uk. Women's Equality Party. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019. Text.
  47. ^ "Protect reproductive rights". womensequality.org.uk. Women's Equality Party. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  48. ^ Ferber, Alona (1 December 2022). "How the UK's only feminist party came out in favour of gender self-ID". New Statesman. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  49. ^ Duffy, Stella (31 May 2015). "The Women's Equality Party question I keep getting asked... (blog)". stelladuffy.wordpress.com. Stella Duffy via WordPress. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  50. ^ McVeigh, Tracy (18 October 2015). "After a whirlwind start, the Women's Equality Party faces its first test – a call for quotas". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  51. ^ ENG, Cafebabel (2 June 2015). "The new UK political party fighting for women's equality". cafébabel. Erasmus Programme. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  52. ^ Staff writer (30 April 2015). "Sandi Toksvig campaigns for equality with new political party". BBC News. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  53. ^ Staff writer (25 July 2015). "Women's Equality Party to field candidates in assembly elections". BBC News: Wales politics. BBC. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  54. ^ Urwin, Rosamund (19 October 2015). "Sophie Walker: 'We could have an equal parliament in a decade'". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  55. ^ Stewart, Heather (6 April 2016). "London mayoral race is transformed as Sophie Walker raises profile of women". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  56. ^ a b "Sophie Walker is WE candidate for London Mayor". diversityuk.org. Diversity UK. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  57. ^ Campaigns (6 April 2016). "Women's Equality Party's Scottish manifesto out". womensviewsonnews.org. Women's Views on News. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  58. ^ Staff writer (1 April 2016). "Edinburgh's parliament election candidates named". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  59. ^ Staff writer (2 February 2016). "Women's Equality Party adds two Scottish Parliament candidates to May election lineup". wearethecity.com. WeAreTheCity. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  60. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (11 April 2016). "The four women standing for the Women's Equality Party in the National Assembly election". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  61. ^ Thompson, Emma (2 May 2016). "Letters: Emma Thompson 'I do not want to die before closing the pay gap'". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  62. ^ Stewart, Heather (2 May 2016). "Emma Thompson backs Women's Equality party for mayoral election". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  63. ^ Catherine Mayer, Lily Allen, Ninotchka, Hugh Quarshie, Stella Duffy, Tanya Moodie, Philippa Perry, Jack Monroe and Leila Bertrand (27 April 2016). Give half your votes to equality on 5 May – WE think that's fair #VoteWE (Video). Women's Equality Channel via YouTube. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  64. ^ Catherine Mayer (host), Jo Brand (guest) and Rosie Boycott (guest) (3 April 2016). Jo Brand & Rosie Boycott @ 5x15 – Women's Equality Party (Video). 5x15 Stories via YouTube. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  65. ^ Caitlin Moran (3 April 2016). Caitlin Moran @ 5x15 – Women's Equality Party (Video). 5x15 Stories via YouTube. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  66. ^ Akkoc, Raziye; Riley-Smith, Ben; Wilkinson, Michael (7 May 2016). "London mayor election results: Sadiq Khan 'proud London has chosen hope over fear' as he wins landslide (12.50am Full results and figures)". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  67. ^ London Elects (7 May 2016). 2016 GLA elections: election of the London Assembly members (PDF). London Elects. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  68. ^ "Scotland election 2016: Glasgow results". BBC News. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  69. ^ "Scotland election 2016: Lothian results". BBC News. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  70. ^ "Our results from Scotland". Women's Equality Party. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  71. ^ "Scotland election 2016: results". BBC News. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  72. ^ "Our results from Wales". Women's Equality Party. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  73. ^ "Wales election 2016: South Wales Central". BBC News. BBC. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  74. ^ Cooper, Charlie; Forster, Katie (7 May 2016). "Women's Equality Party gets more than 350,000 votes and beats George Galloway in London". The Independent. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  75. ^ "Meet your candidate: Tabitha Morton". womensequality.org.uk. Women's Equality Party. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
    - Perraudin, Frances (13 March 2017). "The mayoral candidate fighting for women in the northern powerhouse: 'We need a better deal'". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  76. ^ Liverpool City Region Combined Authority: Results. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  77. ^ "General election 2017: Women's Equality Party leader to challenge MP Philip Davies". BBC News. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  78. ^ Harmer, Emily; Southern, Rosalynd (2018). "More Stable than Strong: Women's Representation, Voters and Issues". Parliamentary Affairs. 71 (s1): 237–254. doi:10.1093/pa/gsx072.
  79. ^ "Hornsey & Wood Green". Election 2017. BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  80. ^ "Manchester Withington". Election 2017. BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  81. ^ "Shipley". Election 2017. BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  82. ^ "Stirling". Election 2017. BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  83. ^ "Tunbridge Wells". Election 2017. BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  84. ^ "Vale of Glamorgan". Election 2017. BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  85. ^ "Vauxhall". Election 2017. BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  86. ^ "Local election results: WE candidates on the march". womensequality.org.uk. Women's Equality Party. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  87. ^ "Lewisham East constituency by-election on 14 June 2018". Lewisham London Borough Council. 14 June 2018. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  88. ^ "Bury South parliamentary election". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  89. ^ "Luton North parliamentary election". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  90. ^ "Dover parliamentary election". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  91. ^ Quinn, Ben (12 November 2019). "Women's Equality party stands aside for Lib Dems in two seats". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  92. ^ "Women's Equality Party elects its first Councillor". Women's Equality Party. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  93. ^ "Congleton Town Council East Ward Results 2019". Cheshire East Council. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  94. ^ Proctor, Kate (16 February 2020). "Women's Equality party candidate pulls out of London mayoral race". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  95. ^ "GLA 2020 Candidates". Women's Equality Party.
  96. ^ Kerr, Andrew (31 March 2021). "Scottish Parliament Election: Statement of Persons and Parties Nominated and Notice of Poll". Edinburgh City Council.
  97. ^ O'Donnell, Annemarie (31 March 2021). "Scottish Parliament Election: Statement of Persons and Parties Nominated and Notice of Poll". Glasgow City Council.
  98. ^ "Women's Equality Election Results 2023". Women's Equality. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  99. ^ "Results of Uncontested Parish Council Elections in Dorset". Dorset Council. 8 April 2024.
  100. ^ "Borough council elections held on Thursday 2 May 2024". Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  101. ^ a b c d "All candidates for Women's Equality Party in the UK Parliamentary general election". Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  102. ^ a b Da Soller, Samantha (7 June 2016). Women's Equality Party Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2015. Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017.
  103. ^ Walker, Sophie (29 July 2016). "How to solve the Labour Party's women problem". Newsweek Europe. IBT Media. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  104. ^ Perraudin, Frances (13 March 2017). "The mayoral candidate fighting for women in the northern powerhouse: 'We need a better deal'". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  105. ^ Cohen, Claire (5 May 2016). "Nudity, cats and doorstep politics: Welcome to election canvassing – Women's Equality Party style". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  106. ^ Hozić, Aida A.; True, Jacqui (2017). "Brexit as a scandal: gender and global trumpism". Review of International Political Economy. 24 (2): 270–287. doi:10.1080/09692290.2017.1302491. S2CID 157491695.
  107. ^ Brooks, Libby (17 September 2020). "Women's Equality party runs consultation on self-identification for trans people". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  108. ^ Staff writer (10 June 2015). "Londoner's Diary: Women are on the march with Sandi Toksvig". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  109. ^ McLaren, Leah (18 June 2015). "Can a party for women, and by women, make it in Britain?". Maclean's. Canada: Rogers Media, Inc. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  110. ^ Duffy, Nick (29 September 2015). "Sandi Toksvig launches comedy tour to raise funds for new political party". PinkNews. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  111. ^ Nixey, Catherine (29 September 2015). "Sandi Toksvig on swapping The News Quiz for the Women's Equality Party". The Times. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  112. ^ Gerlis, Melanie (16 March 2016). "Damien Hirst, suffragette, spins with a twist". The Art Newspaper. Umberto Allemandi.
  113. ^ Furness, Hannah (24 April 2016). "The male artists risking jail to revive Suffragettes' spirit". The Sunday Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  114. ^ "BBC - A History of the World - Object: Suffragette-defaced penny". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  115. ^ Keshet, Shendi (1 July 2017). Women's Equality Party Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2016. Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017.
  116. ^ Moore, Suzanne (9 July 2014). "Harriet Harman is right about sexism in politics – let's start a feminist party". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  117. ^ Maltby, Kate (11 July 2014). "Suzanne Moore, please don't ruin feminism by starting a feminist party". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  118. ^ Carr, Flora (19 August 2015). "The Women's Equality Party is alienating men". GQ (UK edition). Condé Nast. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  119. ^ Evans, Elizabeth (2016). "Intersectionality as feminist praxis in the UK". Women's Studies International Forum. 59: 67–75. doi:10.1016/j.wsif.2016.10.004.
  120. ^ "IUSW condemns Women's Equality Party's harmful choice to seek criminalisation of commercial sex". International Union of Sex Workers. 20 October 2015.
  121. ^ Wilkinson, Abi (21 October 2015). "Sandi Toksvig's Women's Equality Party is a middle-class ladies' campaign group doomed to fail". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  122. ^ "Women's Equality Party leader owes sex workers an apology". swarmcollective.org. Sex Worker Advocacy and Resistance Movement (SWARM). 9 April 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  123. ^ Perkins, Anne (21 October 2015). "Two cheers for the Women's Equality party". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  124. ^ a b Duffy, Nick (21 February 2018). "Women's Equality Party sacks official who called parents of transgender kids 'abusive'". PinkNews. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  125. ^ a b c Bannerman, Lucy (23 November 2017). "Barred academic Heather Brunskell-Evans warns of cowardice over trans issues". Times. Retrieved 4 July 2021. The academic had argued in favour of transgender adults defining themselves "in whichever way they want", but she questioned the advice being promoted to schools and youth groups by transgender organisations that positive affirmation was the only correct way to support children who expressed confusion over their gender. She said: "If a child decides that it's an astronaut, one can play along with this. One doesn't have to moralise about it but quite clearly the child is not an astronaut. In fact it's incumbent upon adults who are responsible for the welfare, psychological and social and medical, of children not to go along with this story." It is understood her comments prompted three complaints from transgender members of the Women's Equality Party, accusing her of "promoting prejudice against the transgender community".
  126. ^ Average vote per candidate.

Notes

[edit]
Note 1
Note 2

Note 3

  • Stacy Hart, Hatch Warren and Beggarwood Ward, Basingstoke and Deane · Paula King, Reddish North, Stockport · Diane Coffey, Heatons North ward, Stockport · Samantha Days, Crumpsall ward, Manchester · Hattie Thomas, Mossley ward, Tameside and Hattie Thomas, Mossley Parish, Cheshire · Sharon Richards, Manor ward, Trafford · Louise Timlin, Evendons West ward, Wokingham and Louise Timlin, Evendons ward, Wokingham Borough · Susan Mead, Congleton North East Ward, Congleton Town Council · Kay Wesley, Congleton East ward, Cheshire East and Kay Wesley, South East Ward, Congleton Town Council) · Jane Whild, Newport Pagnell North and Hanslope, Milton Keynes · Donna-Maree Humphery, Weaste and Seedley, Salford

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Women's Equality Party.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Women%27s_Equality_Party&oldid=1259706128"