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The Boris and Ken show – have your say on April 17

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Alison Clarke
WVoN co-editor 

The London mayoral election will take place on Thursday, May 3.

The two main contenders are both big political hitters who have been on the London scene for many years: Boris Johnson, the current mayor; and Ken Livingstone, the ex-mayor.

It won’t have escaped your notice that both of them are men.

The Ken versus Boris re-match is a sad reminder of the lack of female representation in UK politics.

And at a time when women are facing higher unemployment than men, and parts of London are facing some of the highest unemployment rates in the UK, the question is sadly pertinent to women in the capital.

To shed some light on these issues, the campaigning organisation, Progressive Women, are holding an event in Westminster on April 17 to ask the following questions:

– Can women be fairly represented in London when the main contenders are men?

– What are their campaigns doing to win the “female vote”?

– Is creating a “female voting bloc” a reductive way of doing politics?

– Do “women’s issues” exist and if so, what are they?

They have invited women from each campaign to set out why their candidate is the best one for the job and to give you an opportunity to ask your own questions.

Speakers

Mary Macleod MP (Conservative)

Caroline Pidgeon AM (Lib Dem)

Siobhan Benita (Independent Candidate)

Natalie Bennett (Green)

Labour speaker (tbc)

Time: 18:30 – 20:00
Date: Tuesday, 17 April, 2012
Location: Committee Room 16, House of Commons, Westminster SW1A 0AA

Spaces are limited, so please RSVP to progress@progressivewomen.org.uk as soon as possible.

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