We're updating all the time: Photos / Videos / Twitter / facebook / Ros' Twitter This week it's the turn of the Labour Party to have its conference in Manchester, and we will be broadcasting the programme from there on Monday. On Saturday the party elected a new leader, Ed Miliband, as Gordon Brown stepped down when they lost the election in May.
During the period from May till this weekend Deputy Party Leader Harriet Harman had been standing in as leader, and she will also be joining us on World Have Your Say.
Harriet Harman is currently one of the most important women in British politics. Since she became an MP 28 years ago, the number of women in the House of Commons increased from 3% to 20%.
In an article in Saturday's Times Miss Harman says that the low number of female MPs exists because there is still an entrenched pattern and expectation that an MP or Cabinet Minister should be a man - because traditionally, they have been.
Steve on the blog - Why do women seek equality only at the top? There are plenty of undesirable and even dangerous positions that are filled completely by men, such as miners. Why don't women seek equality everywhere, and not just at the top?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:14
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Josh on Facebook - While men do to some extent impede women politically, we should also appreciate the fact that women are not as pushy on this matter as they should be.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:14
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Ripon emailed - The compulsory choosing of six men and six women is an erroneous, misguided quota system. Leadership must emerge out by dint of merit, organising capacity, dedication, profound knowledge - not by dint of sex or complexion or any such quota.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:08
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Herbert Paul on Facebook - There are no structures in political parties that support the rise of women and that very few women dare. Europe does have one, though - Iron Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:08
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Muthee Mwangi in Kenya on the blog - Societies worldwide are patriarchal to the core since time immemorial. That's why it is news even in the world's only superpower when a woman is selected to the Federal Supreme Court.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:07
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Tom D Ford on the blog - I wonder if women are generally less corruptible and so are less likely to be allowed in. Sure, I acknowledge that some women have gotten into positions of corrupt power, but its seems to me that the greatest percentage of women who get into power are and have been pretty decent progressive leaders.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:00
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Liban emailed - YES - we need more Women in politics. Women bring a lot to the table. Women in my view are more calmer, more emphatetic, less willing to rush into wars, push the country into risky economic and social view points, and MORE LIKELY TO LISTEN
Comment sent via BLOG
18:00
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Max on the blog - It depends on whether we want quality or quantity, and whether we are willing to accept a possibly larger percentage of delinquent children if mothers in general are too involved in social or political activities outside the home.
Comment sent via BLOG
17:59
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Binaya on the blog - It's because politics is not fashionable and glamorous that that women don't chose to do it. And the important thing to be noted is that politics cannot be started as a career - it's a lifestyle.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
17:54
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Liban Warsame emailed - YES - we need more Women in Politics. Women bring a lot to the table. Women in my view are more calmer, more emphatetic, less willing to rush into wars, push the country into risky economic and social view points, and MORE LIKELY TO LISTEN!
Comment sent via Facebook
17:51
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Beryl Ooro - Women started off late on the political trail and with various social cultural stereotypes attempts made to take on the political game have been loaded with traps to demean a womans place when they dare to take on political leadership
Comment sent via Facebook
17:50
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Purushottam Shrestha - The game of politics is often supposed to be played by those with no much compassion, sentiment, emotion, etc. And women generally tend to have these more in comparison to men, so hardly do women choose politics as their careers.
Comment sent via Facebook
17:49
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Arnold Andrew Ntantaala - its a man's world, what do u expect. the day will have a women haeding an Army then the world will be ready for then to dominate the politics as well !!
Comment sent via Twitter
17:33
114850570
About to participate in @大象传媒_whys #lab10
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17:37
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Hello! Ben S here. The team is in Manchester today at the Labour Party conference - and we''re discussing why there aren''t more women in politics. Our special guest is Harriet Harman - until yesterday, the leader of the Labour Party. Post here or at
Why aren't there more women in politics?
| Monday, 9 Sept. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
We're updating all the time: Photos / Videos / Twitter / facebook / Ros' Twitter
This week it's the turn of the Labour Party to have its conference in Manchester, and we will be broadcasting the programme from there on Monday. On Saturday the party elected a new leader, Ed Miliband, as Gordon Brown stepped down when they lost the election in May.
During the period from May till this weekend Deputy Party Leader Harriet Harman had been standing in as leader, and she will also be joining us on World Have Your Say.
Harriet Harman is currently one of the most important women in British politics. Since she became an MP 28 years ago, the number of women in the House of Commons increased from 3% to 20%.
In an article in Saturday's Times Miss Harman says that the low number of female MPs exists because there is still an entrenched pattern and expectation that an MP or Cabinet Minister should be a man - because traditionally, they have been.
Your comments
Comment sent via BLOG
Steve on the blog - Why do women seek equality only at the top? There are plenty of undesirable and even dangerous positions that are filled completely by men, such as miners. Why don't women seek equality everywhere, and not just at the top?
Comment sent via Facebook
Josh on Facebook - While men do to some extent impede women politically, we should also appreciate the fact that women are not as pushy on this matter as they should be.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Ripon emailed - The compulsory choosing of six men and six women is an erroneous, misguided quota system. Leadership must emerge out by dint of merit, organising capacity, dedication, profound knowledge - not by dint of sex or complexion or any such quota.
Comment sent via Facebook
Herbert Paul on Facebook - There are no structures in political parties that support the rise of women and that very few women dare. Europe does have one, though - Iron Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.
Comment sent via BLOG
Muthee Mwangi in Kenya on the blog - Societies worldwide are patriarchal to the core since time immemorial. That's why it is news even in the world's only superpower when a woman is selected to the Federal Supreme Court.
Comment sent via BLOG
Tom D Ford on the blog - I wonder if women are generally less corruptible and so are less likely to be allowed in. Sure, I acknowledge that some women have gotten into positions of corrupt power, but its seems to me that the greatest percentage of women who get into power are and have been pretty decent progressive leaders.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Liban emailed - YES - we need more Women in politics. Women bring a lot to the table. Women in my view are more calmer, more emphatetic, less willing to rush into wars, push the country into risky economic and social view points, and MORE LIKELY TO LISTEN
Comment sent via BLOG
Max on the blog - It depends on whether we want quality or quantity, and whether we are willing to accept a possibly larger percentage of delinquent children if mothers in general are too involved in social or political activities outside the home.
Comment sent via BLOG
Binaya on the blog - It's because politics is not fashionable and glamorous that that women don't chose to do it. And the important thing to be noted is that politics cannot be started as a career - it's a lifestyle.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Liban Warsame emailed - YES - we need more Women in Politics. Women bring a lot to the table. Women in my view are more calmer, more emphatetic, less willing to rush into wars, push the country into risky economic and social view points, and MORE LIKELY TO LISTEN!
Comment sent via Facebook
Beryl Ooro - Women started off late on the political trail and with various social cultural stereotypes attempts made to take on the political game have been loaded with traps to demean a womans place when they dare to take on political leadership
Comment sent via Facebook
Purushottam Shrestha - The game of politics is often supposed to be played by those with no much compassion, sentiment, emotion, etc. And women generally tend to have these more in comparison to men, so hardly do women choose politics as their careers.
Comment sent via Facebook
Arnold Andrew Ntantaala - its a man's world, what do u expect. the day will have a women haeding an Army then the world will be ready for then to dominate the politics as well !!
Comment sent via Twitter
About to participate in @大象传媒_whys #lab10
Comment sent via host
Hello! Ben S here. The team is in Manchester today at the Labour Party conference - and we''re discussing why there aren''t more women in politics. Our special guest is Harriet Harman - until yesterday, the leader of the Labour Party. Post here or at