MPs told to ‘act, not mourn’, as names of women killed by men last year read out

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We all have a role, it’s not just the role of Government to do this, it’s the role of all agencies to do this, from the police to the courts to others as well to absolutely make sure that femicide is taken seriously and it is dealt with when people come forward to share their stories.” Conservative former women and equalities minister Dame Maria Miller said: “We want to continue our work to ensure amazing women on these benches and in our community see elected office as a way that they can contribute to the future of our country.” Of the 650 MPs, 225 are women – which is just under 35%. She said: “Abuse affects all of us but is disproportionately aimed at women and is more likely to put women off from standing for election.” She added: “In research, over nine-in-10 women MPs who took part reported that online abuse or harassment negatively impacts how they feel about being an MP.” Labour MP Carolyn Harris shared her frustration with abusive language she had received about her appearance and gender, adding it “saddens me that it is generally nothing to do with my politics”. The Swansea East MP said: “Today’s debate calls for respectful language to be used in this place and in the upcoming general election, as the public look to us for leadership and an example, and it is crucial that we respect each other and we respect those who elected us to be their representatives.” Parliament and politics remain sadly all too often masculine in culture, language and space, and even after 100 years in politics, many female politicians continue to suffer from bullying, harassment, misogyny and sexism both in this place and beyond Conservative MP Wendy Morton But she listed online abuse she had received from a host of people following her appearance at a recent Westminster Hall debate, telling MPs: “It saddens me that it is generally nothing to do with my politics or causes that I champion but is always because of my gender, my hair colour, my choice of outfits, my size, my appearance, my glasses.” Conservative MP Wendy Morton suggested more needed to be done to ensure women felt comfortable entering politics. “Parliament and politics remain sadly all too often masculine in culture, language and space, and even after 100 years in politics, many female politicians continue to suffer from bullying, harassment, misogyny and sexism both in this place and beyond.” Echoing the words of past Prime Minister’s Questions contributions, she added: “Take a look at the toxic nature of Prime Minister’s Questions some weeks, where women have been known to be called ‘stupid woman’, they have even been told to ‘calm down, dear’.” Labour shadow equalities minister Anneliese Dodds said she had become accustomed to “toxic discourse” in politics, adding: “Complex and sensitive matters too often get boiled down to simplistic, overly oppositional narratives, such that substance is often overshadowed or even completely disregarded.”