Last month, Chamber UK and 50:50 Parliament hosted a ‘Welcome to Parliament’ event for newly elected MPs, focusing on women’s health. The event brought together several MPs, health professionals, and campaigners to highlight the pressing issues surrounding women’s health and the urgent need for comprehensive solutions.
This event was kindly sponsored by Bayer, a leader in both pharmaceuticals and agricultural solutions, known for its long-standing commitment to improving women’s health through innovation and advocacy.
Among the powerful voices at the event was Emily Darlington, a newly elected Member of Parliament. Darlington recounted her experiences, shedding light on the challenges she faced, particularly those related to women’s health and the broader struggle for equality in a predominantly male-dominated environment.
Navigating the Challenges of Women’s Health
In her address, Darlington shared an account of her struggles with menopause, which was marked by a series of misdiagnoses and a lack of adequate support. “That spiralling anxiety, catastrophising started when I was a councillor and cabinet member during COVID,” she explained, illustrating the challenges women often face in getting their health concerns taken seriously.
Despite her position of influence, Darlington faced significant delays in receiving appropriate care. It wasn’t until she took matters into her own hands, leveraging her role as a cabinet member for health, that progress was made. Her efforts resulted in the establishment of a weekly gynaecological clinic to address a two-year backlog of patients. This anecdote highlighted the systemic issues within healthcare and underscored the critical need for women in leadership roles who can advocate for gender-sensitive healthcare reforms.
The Case for Increased Female Representation
Darlington’s speech focussed on the broader issue of female representation in politics and other leadership roles. “This is why we need to advocate, and this is why we need women in Parliament,” she urged. She pointed out that policies often fail to address the real needs of women because they are primarily designed by men. Her insights were a stark reminder that true equality can only be achieved when women have an equal voice in decision-making processes.
She also addressed the outdated perceptions that still linger within political circles. Recounting a recent Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) meeting, she mentioned a male colleague’s well-intentioned but misguided suggestion to focus on “family-friendly practices” due to the growing number of women in Parliament. Darlington’s response was both sharp and enlightening: “Some of those women aren’t mums. And I’ll tell you, a lot, a hell of a lot of those men are dads. Why are we doing this for the women?”
This narrative reinforces the importance of moving beyond token gestures and instead advocating for policies that genuinely reflect the needs and realities of all people, regardless of gender.
Overcoming Adversity in Public Life
Despite the progress made, Darlington candidly discussed the significant hurdles that women, especially those from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds, continue to face in public life. She spoke openly about the increased level of abuse that female politicians endure, noting that women receive at least double the amount of abuse compared to their male counterparts, with BME women experiencing even more hostility.
Darlington’s own experiences have been far from easy. She has faced threats from far-right individuals, requiring police protection at her public events. However, rather than being disheartened, she has used these challenges as a rallying cry for more women to step forward and engage in public life. “The only way we change that is to not let them shut us up,” she declared, encouraging women to stand for positions of power at every level of governance.
Final Thought: A Call to Action for Future Generations
Emily Darlington’s speech at the ‘Welcome to Parliament’ event serves as a powerful reminder of the need for continued advocacy, representation, and resilience. Her personal story and professional insights offer both inspiration and a call to action for women across the country.
As the event concluded, the message was clear: the future of politics and healthcare depends on the active participation of women from all backgrounds. Darlington’s journey underscores the importance of not only standing up but also supporting one another in the pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable society.
In an era where the landscape of leadership is rapidly evolving, Emily Darlington’s words resonate, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the fight for women’s rights and representation.
Bayer has provided sponsorship funding, which supported logistics and materials for this event. Chamber maintained complete editorial control for the event and outputs.
To watch more videos in the series, please subscribe to Chamber UK’s YouTube channel.