Date: Tuesday 27 April 2010
Time: 8-9.30pm
Venue: Old Theatre, Old Building
Speakers: Lynne Featherstone, Harriet Harman, Theresa May
Chair: Ceri Goddard

Women’s votes will determine the result of this closely fought election and all the parties have mounted a media charm offensive to win their support. But is there any policy substance behind their spin? What would the parties' policies in key areas such as the economy, the family, crime and reforming politics mean for women’s lives and which party would best progress women’s equality and human rights?

Join Fawcett, the What About Women campaign partners and LSE, in a pre election debate and question & answer with the leading front bench women from each of the main political parties, to ask these and other questions.

Lynne Featherstone is Liberal Democrat candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green and Spokesperson for Youth and Equality. Lynne served on the London Assembly 2000-5, before stepping down after being elected as MP for Hornsey and Wood Green. During her time on the GLA, she chaired the Transport Committee and also served on the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA). Lynne served as number two in the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs team in Parliament and the party's London spokesperson. She was promoted to the party's Shadow Cabinet as International Development spokesperson in December 2006, giving up her London and Home Affairs posts. In December 2007, after Nick Clegg's election as party leader, she switched to the role of Youth and Equalities Spokesperson in the Shadow Cabinet.

Harriet Harman has been a campaigner all her political life – for equality, human rights and social justice. She served in the Shadow Cabinet under Neil Kinnock, John Smith and Tony Blair as they re-shaped the Labour Party and prepared for victory in 1997. She formulated the legal framework for the Low Pay Commission and the National Minimum Wage, which became law in 1998. She has also been the Secretary of State for Social Security, Cabinet Minister for Women and Solicitor General. In 2007 Harriet was elected as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and was subsequently appointed by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to serve as Chair of the Labour Party, Leader of the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Equalities, Minister for Women and Lord Privy Seal. She was responsible for the recent Equality Act which contains tough new measures to narrow the gender pay gap and strengthen protection against all forms of discrimination. As Labour’s Deputy Leader, Harriet campaigns in all Council, General, European and Parliamentary by-elections building the party’s electoral strength across England Wales and Scotland.

Theresa May is Parliamentary Candidate for Maidenhead, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Shadow Minister for Women. Theresa believes passionately in helping more women into politics. She co-founded Women2Win which helps attract and train women to become Conservative Party candidates for Parliament. When she was Party Chairman, and latterly as a member of the Party’s Candidates Committee, Theresa has also pushed for changes to the Party’s selection procedures to ensure a level playing field for women. The changes made by the Party have been successful and there are now significantly more women in winnable seats for the next election. Having worked in the City before becoming an MP, Theresa has experience of life outside Westminster and understands the demands that a busy career places on women. Having started her career at the Bank of England, she went on to hold posts at the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) as Head of the European Affairs Unit from 1989-1996, and Senior Adviser on International Affairs between 1996-97.

Media queries: please contact the Press Office if you would like to reserve a press seat or have a media query about this event, email pressoffice@lse.ac.uk

Other election related LSE public events

Wednesday 28 April, Phillip Blond is director of ResPublica will deliver a public lecture entitled Red Tory: How Left and Right have Broken Britain and How we can Fix It.

Thursday 29 April, there will be a public debate on The Future of Cities in Britain: a pre-election debate.

Thursday 29 April, there will be a screening of the final Prime Ministerial Debate.

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