Leader of UK Women’s Equality Party to give talk in Jersey

Saturday 18 November 2017

Sophie Walker, the leader of the UK’s Women’s Equality Party, will give a talk at the Royal Yacht on 28 November in a bid to inspire more women to stand for election.

Ms Walker will be speaking to women with an interest in local issues, including potential female candidates and those interested in supporting them.

Only 12 of the 49 elected members of the States Assembly are women, something the States Assembly Diversity Forum – which includes Chief Minister Senator Ian Gorst and Deputy Louise Doublet – is aiming to change. They want to increase the number of women standing for election so that the Assembly may better reflect Jersey’s population. 

Deputy Doublet said: "I am delighted Sophie Walker is coming to Jersey to encourage more women to stand in next year’s election. She is an inspiring speaker and I hope she will get people thinking about politics and how it is relevant to everyone. Now, more than ever, we need to ensure that our Assembly represents the whole population.

"Our colleagues in Guernsey were successful in increasing the number of women candidates at their last election and we need to do the same. I would also like to see more women getting involved in other ways such as supporting candidates with their campaigns and sharing their views on local issues.

A meeting aimed at increasing the number of women who stand for election will be held

@TheRoyalYacht on 28th November at 1 pm with speaker Sophie Walker. Tickets from https://t.co/QkBbduJVZA & https://t.co/Bs0kS9pK28pic.twitter.com/fYyu3mjdHm

— States Assembly (@StatesAssembly) November 14, 2017

Ms Walker’s visit is being sponsored by the Community Relations Trust, the Jersey Soroptimists and the States Greffe.