#Emma Thompson backs fund to get women from underrepresented groups into politics

The last general election in Dec. 2019 saw record numbers of women elected to parliament, but despite that, two thirds of MPs are male. 

Here to challenge the status quo is a new political fund for women called Activate, which has launched with the aim of supporting women from underrepresented groups to run for office. 

British actor Emma Thompson is backing the fund and donated £50,000 to support the first round of candidates, the list of which has just been announced. 

These candidates are 11 women running for different parties in the local and mayoral elections across five parts of England, including the Midlands, North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, and London. The list comprises eight women of colour, one disabled woman, and one care leaver. Seven of the candidates are from low-income backgrounds or identify as working class. 

Thompson explained her reasons for supporting the fund in a statement. “Our political system was built for men who — generally — had women to do everything else for them. Women are often the providers of that unpaid support rather than beneficiaries,” said Thompson. “Therefore women who wish to enter the political system need financial support — and women of colour, disabled women and women on low income need particular support to overcome multiple barriers to their participation.”

She added that in order to make the political system work for everyone, we “need women from all backgrounds and experiences to get elected.” 

Just four percent of MPs are women of colour, and only two women MPs identify as disabled. Working class representation is also an issue in Westminster, with 24 percent of MPs having attended Oxford or Cambridge, the two most prestigious universities in the country. 

The fund was founded by Sophie Walker, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, and Vanessa Pine, former special adviser to the Secretary of State for business and equalities minister in 2018. 

“We’ve seen most recently in the United States the difference that funding grassroots community-based activists can make to improving the political representation of women from minoritised groups,” said Walker in a statement. “The Activate team is working hard to help brilliant women in the UK bring their talents and experience into politics here — for the benefit of everyone.” 

The list of candidates features Mandu Reid, Women’s Equality Party candidate for London mayor;
April Preston, Liberal Democrat candidate for Manchester City Council; Jessie Joe Jacobs, Labour candidate for Tees Valley mayor; Emily West, Green Party candidate for Rotherham Council; and Molly Samuel-Leport, Conservative candidate for Greater London Assembly.