WOMEN MPs are expected to rise this May by the highest number since 1997 — but the “mother of parliaments” will still have fewer women than 35 other countries.

The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) predicted yesterday that the number of women MPs would go up by 44 at the general election, based on research in key seats.

If this is borne out, almost 30 per cent of parliamentary seats will be taken by women.

The rise was welcomed at the TUC Women’s Conference in London today, but many delegates said there would be little reason to celebrate until a 50-50 balance or better was achieved.

TUC women’s committee vice-chair Vicky Knight told the Star that the number of women set to be in the next Parliament was disappointing.

“It’s heartening to see the numbers are on the increase but they are not moving fast enough, they are not moving far enough and it’s not acceptable in this day and age,” she said.

“Until we see representation in proportion with the population of the UK, it’s a while until celebrations.

“We welcome every close in the gap, it just needs to happen faster.”

Britain is set to move from 56th to 36th in the world rankings of female parliamentary representation.

However, it still lies behind countries such as Rwanda, Sweden, Cuba and Angola.

ERS deputy chief executive Darren Hughes believed the disproportionately low number of women in Parliament was one of the reasons why voters felt alienated from politics.

“At the moment, barely one in five MPs is a women, which simply isn’t good enough,” he said.

Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman told the conference this week that her party was committed seeing the House of Commons half men and half women.

“We don’t think an overwhelmingly male government makes good decisions, especially when it comes to women’s lives,” she said.

Labour is far ahead of the other parties when it comes to pushing equal representation in Parliament, accord to ERS.

In Labour’s top 100 target seats over half are to be contested by female candidates — the Conservative equivalent sits at under 30.

Of Labour’s top 100 safe seats, 36 are occupied by women while the Tories lag behind on 19.

joanaramiro@peoples-press.com