‘Equality for women isn't a women's issue. When women fulfill 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.’
In March 2015, journalist and author Catherine Mayer accidentally founded a new political party.
A trio of female MPs had taken to the stage at the Women of the World Festival, to set out their manifestos for gender parity ahead of the general election. The audience remained sceptical.
A tube train rumbled beneath or perhaps it was Emmeline Pankhurst spinning through the soil of Brompton Cemetery. Here women were, discussing elections to a parliament swarming with more male MPs than the sum total of all women ever to hold Westminster seats, in a country with greater numbers of men called John at the helm of big businesses than there are female CEOs.
Catherine took to the microphone, suggested there might be a need for a new women’s party, and announced she’d be in the bar if anyone wanted to discuss.
The bar has never been more crowded. That night, the Women’s Equality Party was born.
Now, with major party status and numbers bigger than UKIP’s, this could be the future – and in this astute, insightful and inspiring book, Catherine Mayer shows just how that future could look.
