Fawcett x Elect Her: Get involved in the election

14 October 2023

Women's voices are critical to the result of the upcoming general election.

Our friends at Elect Her have produced a toolkit to help you get involved in the run-up to the local, regional and general elections, filled with advice, including how to:

  • Volunteer with a campaign
  • Influence candidates
  • Organise a hustings event

Check out the How to Get Involved in The Election Toolkit from Elect Her

Whether at a one-to-one meeting, or at a hustings, asking political candidates about their policy stances and local knowledge is a critical way to understand their views, call for change, and hold whoever is elected to account. Asking good questions is a way to ensure they know what matters to you as a prospective voter, and to get candidates thinking about those issues. 

Here are some suggested questions on our three key focus areas to ask your political candidates. As we get closer to the election, we will continue to add questions, so bookmark this tab and check back for updates. 

Reforming Childcare 

  1. According to some OECD measures, the UK early education and childcare system is the most expensive in the world. How would you make it more affordable for parents without sacrificing quality?

  2. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings are under huge financial strain, with current levels of funding not meeting costs. At the same time there is a worker retention crisis due to low pay and poor conditions. How would you advocate for a sustainable and supported ECEC workforce?

  3. How would you ensure that gender and racial stereotypes are challenged in the early years curriculum, and that ECEC is culturally inclusive and accessible for all families?

Workplaces That Work For Women 

  1. 40% of women experience sexual harassment at work over their lives. If you are elected, how will you advocate to ensure workplaces are places that are safe for women?

  2. The Flexible Working Act has made the 'right to request' flexible working arrangements a 'day-one right' in a new job. This will not be enough to create more high-quality, high-paying flexible jobs that allow everyone to balance their caring responsibilities with work. If you are elected, how will you support a culture change to make flexible working the default?

  3. In 2022 the average mean gender pay gap for full-time workers was 11.3%, and women, on average, took home £564 less than men each month—up from £536 in 2021. How will you close the gender pay gap if you are elected?

  4. What are your thoughts on making ethnicity pay gap reporting mandatory?

  5. According to a report by the Fawcett Society and the Runnymede Trust, 75% of women of colour reported experiencing racism at work, and 27% reported experiencing racial slurs in the workplace. How will you help to tackle racism in the workforce?

  6. Equal pay legislation is outdated and doesn't work as well as it should. Fawcett research shows 60% of working women either know they are paid less than their equivalent counterparts, or do not know what their male equivalents are paid. How will you modernise it?

  7. Do you support the current system of parental leave? What are your priorities for reform?

Women's Representation 

  1. Currently only 34% of MPs are women. Do you back Centenary Action's pledge to bring about a 50:50 Parliament by 2028? What measures are you and your party taking to ensure that this happens? 

  2. There is an underrepresentation of women of colour and disabled women in elected office at all levels in UK politics. What has your party done to ensure that women with these identities and other intersecting identities are supported to get into elected office?

  3. What are you and your party doing to ensure the tone of the campaign is civil, and doesn't incite hatred, misogyny, homophobia and/or racism? How is your party taking action against anyone crossing those lines?

Find out more about Fawcett at the general election:

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