Why UK Election 2024 Was A Historic Milestone For Women Candidates

Female candidates achieved several significant milestones in the United Kingdom General Election 2024, breaking new ground and paving a path for more women in politics. About 242 women were elected to the House of Commons on July 4, setting the record for the highest number ever elected to the Parliament. The previous record was set in 2019 when 220 women were elected, making up 34% of the seats.

In 2017, the record was 207 women and in 2015, it was 196 women. The growing number of women in the Parliament reflects an optimistic trend where women are given better opportunities and encouragement to participate in lawmaking and governance of a country.

UK Election 2024 - A Historic Milestone For Women Candidates

Securing a record number of seats in the House of Commons wasn't the only achievement by women in the UK General Election. The new government is also ushering in many new trailblazing women in previously male-dominated leadership positions.

One such woman is Rachel Reeves, who has been appointed as the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the incoming Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. The 45-year-old joined politics as a teenager and has now made history as the first woman to ever be elected as UK's Finance Minister. 

Another woman who has risen to prominence is Angela Rayner, Britain's new Deputy Prime Minister. She was a teen mom and care worker, who would now be one of the UK's most powerful women. Rayner's story is significant, as she entered a profession long dominated by rich and influential figures.

Angela Rayner.

A woman who came from nothing and fought her way past misogynists up to the role of Deputy PM and Secretary of State.

What an inspiration she is. pic.twitter.com/e0O72veoOU

— Margo 🌈 🐝#FBPE #FBNHS (@iampetmutton) July 5, 2024

Uma Kumaran made history as the first Tamil-origin woman to be elected to the parliament. The Sri Lankan-descent politician is the daughter of immigrants who fled the conflict in Jaffna and took refuge in the UK in 1980. Kumaran believes it is now her responsibility to work for the betterment of the country that supports her family in need. She is now working for the representation of South Asian women in politics.

For the first time, 11 members from the Sikh community have been elected to the UK Parliament, out of which five are women. Kirith Entwistle (Kirith Ahluwali), became the first woman MP for Bolton North East with more than 16,000 votes. Debutante Harpreet Kaur Uppal won the Huddersfield parliamentary.

Congratulations to all Sikh Members who have become MP’s In U.K. congratulations! https://t.co/U2JpIDibs2 pic.twitter.com/1zV46laWu8

— Dr Kulbeer Singh Badal (Sandhawalia) ✍️ (@DrKS_Badal) July 5, 2024

Meanwhile, Satvir Kaur of the Labour Party won the Southampton Test seat by over 15,900 votes. Preet Kaur Gill, who has been vocal about Sikh issues in the UK parliament, was elected for a third term. Sonia Kumar is also the first woman MP from the Dudley parliamentary seat.

Need For Safer Space

While these achievements are worth celebrating, it must be noted that the fight for gender equality in leadership professions is not yet over. Jess Phillips and Shabana Mahmood were some of the women candidates who were harassed and bullied during their campaign.

“I understand that a strong woman standing up to you is met with such reticence,” replies Jess Phillips to a group of men intimidating after her win.

Jess then tells of how a young woman delivering leaflets yesterday was filmed and screamed at by an older man, who then slashed… pic.twitter.com/NDEiK7AEEr

— David Challen (@David_Challen) July 5, 2024

Phillips and Mahmood, both from the Labour Party, were abused after winning the election when they were interrupted and heckled during their acceptance speeches. The politicians pointed out how harassment faced by women in politics is an "assault on democracy itself."

In India, the Lok Sabha elections that concluded in June 2024 reflected a striking gender imbalance as women made up only 9.53% of the candidates. There were 797 female candidates in the fray, out of the 8,360 candidates. A total of 75 women were leading across the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Leadership roles across the world have been severely male-dominated throughout history. While women are now making headway in governance, there is still a need to create more equitable opportunities and safer environments for women to not only enter professions but also flourish in them.