29 June 2023

Harriet Harman will become the Fawcett Society's new Chair next month. 

Harman takes up post at the conclusion of the Privileges Committee inquiry into Boris Johnson. 

Harman is the Mother of the House—the title given to the female MP with the longest continuous service—and will step down at the next election after close to 40 years in Parliament. Harman was first elected in 1982, and is currently the MP for Camberwell and Peckham. 

Harman said:

As part of my commitment to the struggle for equality for women, I have been a supporter of Fawcett for decades. And over those decades I have worked in partnership with Fawcett on countless issues. 

Fawcett is of great importance. It's the single, clearest voice for the demand for equality for women in the UK. This is a demand which is now almost universally supported by women and by growing numbers of men. 

I'm so delighted to be taking up the Chair of Fawcett. 

It is such an important time to be advancing the cause of women’s rights and fighting against the backlash.  And Fawcett is just the very organisation women can look to to fearlessly champion their rights

Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, said:

We are thrilled to welcome Harriet as Fawcett's new Chair. She is a titan of the women's movement in the UK—her commitment to the advancement of women across British society could not be more clear. We look forward to working together to ensure Fawcett continues to be the strongest voice it can in the fight for true equality.

Fawcett offers sincere thanks to outgoing Chair, Tanya Tunley, for her service. 

---

Join us in the fight for women's rights. Become a Fawcett member today and join the movement for change.