Georgia joins Amber in Parliament

On Wednesday 21st November, Amber Rudd MP asked Georgia Harrison, a Hastings student at East Sussex College Hastings, to join her in Parliament for the #AskHerToStand day.

The event is aimed at trying to get more women to stand for election.

Georgia was able to meet Amber and shadow Amber’s job as an MP which included watching PMQs and attending Select Committees amongst other events. Currently, only 1 in 3 MPs are female, and the UK has only had 491 female MPs compared to 4,503 men since it became possible for women to stand for public office.

The event was organised by Frances Scott, Helen Pankhurst, the Centenary Action Group, the Fawcett Society, and the Jo Cox Foundation.

Amber Rudd MP said:

“We need to see more women standing for public office, and this starts with encouragement and support. I was pleased to take part in this event and welcome Georgia up to Parliament. I originally met her in Hastings and was impressed with her political involvement, so I felt she would enjoy this event.”

Georgia, from East Sussex College Hastings said:

“I was pleased to accept Amber’s invitation up to Parliament for the Ask Her to Stand event. It was certainly inspirational to see have almost 300 women from Parliamentary constituencies get together to encourage women standing for public office. I also enjoyed seeing the Palace of Westminster and catching up with Amber.”

Frances Scott, Director of 50:50 Parliament who organised the day was delighted with the turnout. She said:

“On the centenary of when women were first ever able to stand it is wonderful that so many MPs participated in our #AskHerToStand day by inviting a women to Parliament. It is a clear demonstration that Westminster does welcome women.”