"There are more men called Roger on the ballot paper than there are women"

Seema Malhotra has been selected as Labour’s Parliamentary candidate in the upcoming Feltham & Heston by-election.

If elected, she be the first woman to represent the constituency. In fact, there are more men called Roger on the ballot paper than there are women (see interview with Seema and Labour Women's Network).

One of Seema’s priorities will be to do more to engage women in politics at a local level, to bring politics closer to people who might otherwise not take part.

I campaigned for Seema last weekend and my favourite comment on the doorstep was this, which came from a woman:

“Who’s the candidate...? Oh it’s a woman...really?” The woman on the doorstep was surprised but very pleased.

Seema herself has had similar reactions. She says in the interview with the Labour Women's Network:

“As I’ve spent time campaigning in our area, I’ve found that women really connect with the idea of a female representative – that it provides an opportunity for them to have political conversations that might not otherwise occur. I think women can bring a very different perspective to the political debate, whether on economics or family and community issues. Often, women are deeply rooted in their communities and are central to the invisible networks that hold communities together. I believe there is real value in that perspective being represented in Parliament."

Seema grew up in Feltham, and went to school in Heston. She is co-founder and Director of the Fabian Women’s Network.