On 10th March 2025, Cherie Blair CBE KC joined an International Women’s Day Reception at the Speaker’s State Apartments hosted by Chamber UK and 50:50 Parliament. The event brought together a distinguished audience of current and aspiring parliamentarians, local government leaders, and advocates for gender equality in politics. Under the theme #AccelerateAction, the evening celebrated progress while highlighting the urgent need for greater female representation in political office.
Speakers included
- Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, The Speaker of the House of Commons
- Karin Smyth MP, Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
- Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
- Ellie Reeves MP, Government post of Minister without Portfolio
- Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for the Treasury
- Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Deputy Speaker (Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means) (host)
- Sonia Kumar MP, Labour MP for Dudley (host)
- Mims Davies MP, Shadow Minister (Women), and Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
- Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health and Social Care
- Mrs Cherie Blair CBE KC, Human Rights Lawyer
- Lyanne Nicholl, CEO, 50:50 Parliament
- Shobhna Ladva, Women’s Health Lead, Bayer UK/Ireland
- Mindy Simon, Co-Director at the NHS Innovation Accelerator
- Susan Bright, Chair, 50:50 Parliament
Breaking Barriers and Representation Milestones
The event was opened by Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, who welcomed attendees with a message of encouragement. He celebrated the record number of female MPs in Parliament – 263 elected at the last General Election – but stressed that barriers remain. Notably, he emphasised the importance of protecting women MPs and candidates from threats and intimidation, an issue examined in the Speaker’s Conference.
Ellie Reeves MP, Minister without Portfolio, echoed this sentiment, reflecting on her own journey into politics. She highlighted the necessity of structural reforms such as proxy voting for maternity leave and the House of Commons nursery, both of which have supported women in public office. “Progress is not given to us, it is won,” she reminded attendees.
The Power of Female Leadership
Throughout the evening, speakers from across the political spectrum reinforced the transformative impact of women in leadership. Daisy Cooper MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, proudly acknowledged her Party’s near 50:50 gender balance among its MPs. Meanwhile, Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Leader of the House of Commons, reflected on a historic moment: a chamber filled with 263 women MPs for an IWD photograph. “We are nearly at 50:50, but the work is not done,” she said.
Caroline Nokes MP, Deputy Speaker, provided insight into her role, describing the privilege of witnessing female colleagues “shine, not just in numbers, but in contributions.” She urged aspiring politicians to seize opportunities and work towards a truly equal Parliament.
Lyanne Nicholl, CEO of 50:50 Parliament, took to the stage to emphasise the growing urgency of action. “The global rollback on women’s rights is a wolf at our door. We must fight harder than ever to ensure progress continues,” she warned, urging all those in attendance to push for systemic change.
The Challenges Women Face
Many speakers candidly addressed the challenges still facing women in politics and public life. Sonia Kumar MP, the first female MP for Dudley and the first ethnic minority representative of the borough, shared her unconventional path into politics. She encouraged women from all backgrounds to stand for office, challenging the notion that political experience or connections are prerequisites for success. “You don’t need to have politics in your blood – you just need the passion to make a difference,” she affirmed.
Similarly, Mims Davies MP, Shadow Minister for Women, spoke about the resilience required to navigate the political landscape. She noted that women in politics often face undue scrutiny but also benefit from strong networks of support. “Once you become a female parliamentarian, you learn who your true allies are – and they exist across party lines,” she said.
Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, underscored the additional challenges faced by women balancing caregiving responsibilities with political ambition. “Women take on the overwhelming majority of caring roles in our communities. We must ensure they are recognised, supported and not held back from leadership,” she said, reinforcing the importance of policy reforms to support carers.
Women’s Health and Policy Change
The evening also spotlighted the intersection between gender representation and policy change. Shobhna Ladva, Women’s Health Lead at Bayer UK/Ireland, highlighted the economic and social costs of neglecting women’s health. “Absenteeism due to menstrual health issues costs the UK £11 billion annually,” she revealed, calling for urgent reforms to national health guidelines.
Karin Smyth MP, Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care, reinforced the need to address disparities in women’s healthcare, particularly in maternity services and support for Black women. She expressed optimism about ongoing efforts to reshape the system but stressed the importance of having more women in leadership positions across the NHS and government.
The Global Perspective: a Call to Action from Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair CBE KC, human rights lawyer and founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, delivered a passionate speech on the global rollback of women’s rights. She reminded attendees that despite progress in the UK, equality remains elusive worldwide. “We are nearly 300 years away from achieving gender equality globally,” she warned, citing UN statistics. She urged women to step forward, men to act as allies, and political parties to commit to 50:50 candidate shortlists to sustain momentum.
Mindy Simon, Co-Director at the NHS Innovation Accelerator, expanded on this by advocating for long-term cultural shifts, starting with education. “What are we doing to open the eyes of young girls to what’s possible? Representation must start early,” she challenged the audience.
A Call to Action
The 2025 International Women’s Day Reception was not only a celebration but a powerful reminder that while progress has been made, the road to equal representation is far from over. Events like this serve as vital rallying points, ensuring that the fight for gender equality in politics remains at the forefront of public discourse. As many speakers reiterated, now is the time to accelerate action.
As the evening drew to a close, Susan Bright, Chair of 50:50 Parliament, underscored the urgency of continued action. While acknowledging the significant progress made, she warned of the risk of backsliding and called on attendees to support the movement financially and politically. “We need women at the table – not just to discuss women’s issues, but to shape all policies,” she stated.
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Bayer has provided sponsorship funding, which supported logistics and materials for this event. Chamber maintained complete editorial control for the event and outputs.
Bicycle Therapeutics also provided sponsorship support, ensuring the success of the evening while allowing the organisers full independence over content and discussions.