English: Feminism in Politics: Past, Present and Future. Charlene White, Harriet Harman and Joeli Brearley

This event took place on 27 April 2023. The information below is correct as of the publication date.

Helen Pankhurst introduces a dynamic exploration of feminism and politics.

Over a century since some women won suffrage in the UK, why has equal political representation of women still not been achieved? What stands in the way of full participation, and what can we do about it? This event asks political leaders to explore the obstacles that prevent women in all their diversity from entering politics.

Inspired by the suffragettes and suffragists, the Centenary Action Group was established by Helen Pankhurst, uniting political parties’ efforts at removing barriers to participation. 2028 will mark the centenary of equal franchise, providing a timeline for a transformed and inclusive parliament. Helen Pankhurst (grand-daughter of Sylvia Pankhurst - whose prison writings are held at the BL - and the founder of CAG) introduces this rousing session, chaired by ITV’s Charlene White.

Journalist and presenter Charlene White was the first Black woman to present ITV News at Ten. She has written for the New York Post, hosts Loose Women and starred on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here… She uses her platform to educate children about race and racism, mentor aspiring journalists, and work alongside various organisations to achieve better representation of women and minorities in the industry. Charlene’s documentary Empire’s Child, delving into her Jamaican ancestry and its links to the British Empire. She co-hosted the notable documentary Has George Floyd Changed Britain? with Sir Trevor McDonald exploring the impact George Floyd’s death had on people living in the UK.