Electing women to the House

A record number of female candidates have registered to take part in Britain’s general election. Since first being permitted to stand in 1918, 494 women have taken their seats in the House of Commons


Political parties (Male and female registered candidates)

Male candidates			Female candidates
		
		Labour 631 
		298	333 	53%
	
		Green 498
		294	204  	41%

		Conservatives 635
		445	190 	30%

		Lib Dem 611
		423	188 	31%

		Brexit Party 275
		221	54	20%

		
SNP 59
39	20 	34%

CPA* 29
15	14	48%

UKIP 44
34 	10 	23%

Plaid Cymru 36 
27 	9 	25%

SDLP 15
7   	8 	53%

Sinn Féin 15 
11   	4 	27%

DUP 17
15   	2 	12%

*Christian Peoples Alliance


Candidates  standing
Total 3,322
2,202 66%
1,120 34%

  
Dec 1919, Nancy Astor: Viscountess Astor becomes first woman to take her seat in House of Commons

May 1979, Margaret Thatcher: UK’s first female prime minister – just 19 women MPs, 2.9%

Jul 2016, Theresa May: UK’s second female prime minister. There are 191 women MPs, 29%

Dec 2019: Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson (above left) is only female leader of UK-wide party. Nicola Sturgeon (above right) is First Minister of Scotland and leader of SNP – first woman to hold either position

     
Sources: Press Association, House of Commons Library 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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