Fawcett comments on number of women MPs standing down

Responding to the news that to date over 50 MPs are standing down - many of whom are women - Sam Smethers Chief Executive of The Fawcett Society said:

"It is extremely worrying to see so many women leaving parliament at this election, citing either the abuse they have received or the pressure it has put on their family life. We have to confront the fact that our toxic politics is driving good women MPs away. In 2019 it is still a hostile environment for women. 

"We've seen Labour put good women MPs through the process of re-selection unnecessarily while many moderate Conservative women MPs or former Conservative MPs have had enough. This should particularly worry the Conservatives as just 1 in 5 of their MPs are women.   I fear that we will see the number of women MPs fall after this election. We are going backwards."

Many women MPs who are intending to step down and not seek re-election in December have cited the abuse MPs receive as having contributed to their decision.