While the possibility of the first female chancellor is absolutely to be celebrated, the authors of the letter backing Rachel Reeves are wrong to say we’ve “seen incredible progress” in politics for women (Top businesswomen back Rachel Reeves as first female chancellor, 11 June). At this snap general election, only 30% of the candidates are women. That is a derisory figure. It’s also 4% below the last snap election. So while a few have made it through, it’s not many. Business is actively doing better than politics in the diversity statistics.
The issues lie in processes and procedures. Candidate selection itself is at best opaque and at worst deeply unfair and alienating. It creates enormous barriers to entry, particularly affecting women, disabled people, Black people and other ethnic minorities.
We need systemic change to make the difference. Creating that requires fundamental reform. We have a roadmap that includes 47 areas of change that will provide methods of making politics more appealing, something we’d all benefit from.
Maybe then we could have a new female chancellor every eight years rather than 800 years. Having more diversity at the table is in and of itself the right goal. That it happens to also bring better outcomes is the icing on the cake.
Hannah Stevens
CEO, Elect Her
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