50:50 Bid a Fond Farewell to Her Majesty The Queen

Posted?on 16/09/22

By Frances Scott, Founder and Director 50:50 Parliament.

The 50:50 Team were deeply saddened by the news of Her Majesty The Queen’s death.?

She was an inspirational woman, a dedicated leader and a prime example of committed service. The second Elizabethan Era will be viewed as being just as productive and transformational as the first. The country has become more open minded and tolerant since the Queen came to the throne in February 1952. We have been privileged and fortunate to live through her reign but acknowledge that there is still work to do when it comes to overcoming discrimination and prejudice. Even so, the past 70 years have seen many changes.

Recently, political commentator and journalist Andrew Marr said:

I do think her gender was important… Had we had a militaristic, bristling male king in the 1960’s and 70’s things would have felt different and harsher and those changes would have been harder.?

Marr was speaking in a documentary called ‘Britain After the Queen’ with Andrew Neil. He referred to a photograph of the Queen dancing with President Nkrumah of Ghana in 1961 and the impact that it had. Fellow panellist Baroness Valerie Amos (previous leader of the Privy Council) pointed out that the Queen was not alone in making these changes, others played a role, including government. Actress Adjoa Andoh suggested that the Queen set the tone and Joan Bakewell mentioned that upon her accession, the fact that the country was being led by a young woman opened up attitudes to family life and what a good society might be.

Prince Phillip played an important part in supporting the Queen. In this respect they were a modern family. Evidence suggests that it is easier to succeed in public life if you have supportive friends and family. Historically it has generally been women supporting men, so to watch something different in the Royal Family for the last 70 years has been refreshing.?

On their marriage Prince William and Kate requested that the ancient laws governing succession be changed to ensure that their eldest child would inherit, whether they were a girl or boy. George is their first born so it seems that following on from King Charles, the next two monarchs will be Kings. Our future is reverting to tradition, with Queen Consorts playing the supporting role.?

The Queen’s coffin lying in state in Westminster Hall presents a sombre picture. 50:50 remembers this historic space on a happier day, when, on 21 November 2018 our #AskHerToStand day, it was filled with over 300 women calling for “Equal seats and equal say.” Coincidentally I noticed that the Queen’s coffin, draped in the Royal Standard, is also carrying our campaign colours – green, white and purple. Monarchy is full of symbolism and so are we. Our colours are a throwback to the suffragettes and for us, these colours mean “Give women power!”

50:50 will miss having a female role model as head of state but it is to be hoped that King Charles will be as open minded and modern as his parents. Although his power is limited to the formal, ceremonial and non-political, we hope that he will be supportive of our charitable cause to build a better democracy by inspiring and encouraging women to progress in politics. His mother, the late Queen, has clearly demonstrated what a positive impact women can make in positions of power and leadership. Our hope is that during the reign of King Charles III, women will finally gain rightful representation in Parliament.

50:50 Parliament works with all the political parties to help women progress in politics at a local and national level.

We are an inclusive, intersectional charity set up to empower women with our

#AskHerToStand?and?#SignUpToStand?campaigns.

When women click #SignUpToStand via?www.5050Parliament.co.uk/signuptostand?we:

– send them an interactive Personal Political Profile

– allocate them a 50:50 Buddy

– invite them to weekly party specific Bite Size meetings

– and offer bespoke support to women from diverse groups.

In the corridors of power, men still outnumber women by 2:1.

We invite everyone, men and women, to support our work and join our mailing list at?www.5050Parliament.co.uk

If you would like to “Donate” please become a “Friend of 50:50” at?www.5050Parliament.co.uk/donate