News from The Labour Party

Gordon Brown welcomes inspirational women to Downing Street

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah are set to be joined by hundreds of women for a special reception at Downing Street this evening (Monday 9th March) to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Labour’s women MPs, MEPs and peers have invited extraordinary women from their constituencies to meet the Prime Minister and his wife to mark the annual event.

Each year governments, women’s groups and organisations around the world mark International Women’s Day and celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:

“International Women’s Day is a chance for us to join with our colleagues throughout the world and celebrate our achievements and acknowledge where more work needs to be done.

“As a party we lead by example; Labour has the best record of any UK political party in terms of women’s representation – we have more than three times the number of women MPs than all the opposition parties put together – and we have done more than any government in history to support fairness and equality.

“Labour has delivered more equal wages and the better opportunities, education and training which vastly improve the freedom of women and their families to get on in life.

“The women coming to Downing Street today are an inspiration to me and to the whole Labour government and their achievements are a reminder that when we act together, real lives really change.”

Harriet Harman MP, Labour’s Minister for Women, said:

“International Women’s Day is the day to celebrate the role of women in their families, at work and around the world.

“And it’s a time to focus on our determination – as Labour – to tackle the discrimination and oppression of women here in the UK, and across the world, and step up our progress towards fairness and equality. Our forthcoming Equality Bill will help ensure fairer treatment of women at work.

“The women who are joining us in Downing Street this evening are all inspirational and we’re proud to celebrate the difference they are making to their local communities.”

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