Faizah Gilani
220 women were elected to the UK parliament following the general election on 12 December 2019. This is the highest number ever. According to the House of Commons Library website, the 2019 General Election returned the highest number and proportion of female MPs ever recorded: 220 (34%) of 650 MPs are women, up from 208 in 2017 (+12). This continues the trend of increasing female representation in parliament.
57 (41%) of the 140 MPs elected for the first time in 2019 were women. Of these, 32% pf new Conservative MPs were women; 77% of new Labour MPs were women and 13% of new SNP MPs were women. All newly elected Liberal Democrat MPs were women. Seven of 15 (47%) of re-elected former MPs were also female. And for the first time, both the Liberal Democrats and Labour have more women MPs than men.
Interestingly, there are more ethnic minority women elected than men, for the first time. The new parliament is the most diverse so far, but although commendable progress has been made, it is important to highlight that in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, there are no ethnic minority MPs. England is more diverse than the rest of the UK, but one in twenty people in Scotland and Wales are in fact from an ethnic minority background. This indicates that more work needs to be done.
The increase in the number of female MPs is quite an achievement, considering the tension leading up to the election. Eighteen sitting female MPs decided to stand down because of harassment and the vitriol coming their way. MP Heidi Allen decided against standing for re-election due to hostility. Also, the tragic murder MP Jo Cox in 2016 continues to play on the minds of MPs, in particular women that are more vulnerable. But despite fears and the increase of sexism and racism online, election night was a victory for women.
Being a woman, however, that too from an ethnic minority background, in a tough profession such as politics, can work as a double-edged sword. While there is progress with the number of women elected, it does not ease the burden that comes with being a woman belonging to an ethnic minority. Women tend to find themselves at the receiving end of abuse due to the fact that they choose to be vocal, proactive, and simply because they are women. But if they are Black or Asian, chances are they will suffer more abuse than a white female colleague.
In the age of social media, where individuals can hide their true identity behind a fake username and profile picture, Black and Asian female MPs find themselves bearing the brunt of nasty and hateful comments online. They are trolled, harassed and discriminated against. In some extreme, disturbing cases, female MPs have even received rape threats. The Brexit fiasco has not really helped matters either, with trolls becoming more active and aggressive within an incredibly toxic and divisive environment.
But discrimination does not exist solely in the online world. In a recent study carried out by the broadcaster ITV, most black and Asian MPs have actually experienced racism within parliament. Almost two-thirds of black and ethnic minority MPs have said that they have experienced some form of racism while working in Parliament, and half say they have faced it from fellow MPs. Labour MP Tulip Siddiq told ITV that when she was pregnant, a colleague had expressed surprise at the fact that Ms. Siddiq was expecting a girl, as she thought people from Asian backgrounds were “likely to abort girls.”
Although shocking, this hardly comes as a surprise. Parliament may be the most diverse it has ever been, but the culture within remains pretty much the same. The level of ignorance and lack of understanding towards people of different backgrounds and cultures is a problem. Of course, having a Prime Minister that has on record ridiculed women belonging to a specific religion, emboldens those that harbour similar views and normalises discrimination.
Sadly, MPs who try to create awareness by raising this issue on other platforms are most often shut down by vicious comments asking them to “go home,” or are accused of being out of touch with the “real concerns” of the people. Difficulties faced by female MPs in general is not taken with the seriousness that is required.
The current environment is such, that no one is hardly spared. Even male politicians can become the target of abuse. Labour’s Afzal Khan of Pakistani descent has spoken out over racist comments directed his way, where he has been told to “go back to Pakistan.” If this is happening to a male MP, one can only imagine what it would be like for female colleagues.
As we mark Women’s Day, it is heartening to see women becoming more politically vocal and proactive. But statistics do not reveal the entire picture. Women continue to face a great deal of hardship, in order to make their presence felt. And if they are Black or Asian, the obstacles become much harder to overcome. There are lots of positives to applaud, but there is still a very long way to go.
If we want to make politics more appealing for females and those from different ethnicities, this hostile and toxic culture not only online, but within society as a whole, needs to be challenged. This could be done so through stricter laws, making it harder for people to use online to spew venom. And parliament as a workplace for these determined women, must become more welcoming. Diversity within parliament is challenging the “old white men” dominance. Its face is changing, and it should be warmly embraced.
