‘Perseverance is key to being an MP’
Prime Minister Theresa May has encouraged more women to put their names forward for elected office at the launch of Women2Win Wales.
Interviewed by Secretary of State for Wales, the Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP, for a special ‘In Conversation’ session, the Prime Minister discussed the role of Women2Win in electing more Conservative women to Parliament, and why she co-founded the organisation with Baroness Jenkin of Kennington in 2005. She also discussed her own journey to the green benches- as one of only 13 female Conservative MPs elected in 1997.
“Women tend to wait for someone to tap them on the shoulder. Women2Win encourages women to put themselves forward and provides help on the process and what being an MP is like.”
“Women2Win Wales will help identify candidates at a grassroots level and provide training, mentoring and networking opportunities that can take them to Parliament, and will help to elect the first female Welsh Conservative MP,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also offered advice for aspiring candidates, telling them that campaigning on the doorsteps demonstrates commitment and perseverance is a key quality to have.
Answering questions from the audience, the Prime Minister said that local government is a good way of identifying women who may be ideal Parliamentary candidates, with the role of a councillor a good test to balance the needs of a ward versus the whole council. May also referenced the role of women in the private sector, reinforcing the importance of appointing women in non-executive positions with a variety of different skills.
The Prime Minister also discussed her work on tackling modern slavery and the UK’s role as a world leader in ending the crime. And referencing her love of Wales and walking in the Welsh countryside, May also revealed she likes to switch off by cooking.