Test Valley MP calls for Government to 'wake up' to equality
Caroline Nokes has accused Downing Street of having a 'blokey mentality'
The MP for Romsey and Southampton North, Caroline Nokes, is calling on Government to 'take equality issues far more seriously'.
She's the chair of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, and wants to see changes to represent females more fairly.
Ms Nokes says the pandemic has really highlighted how women have been disproportinately hit:
"If you look at the sectors in which there were higher numbers of women employed - like retail, hospitality, the hair and beauty industry - they went into lockdown early and were late to come out of it. It's also about women's employment prospects, they're more likely to be furloughed than male colleagues."
Caroline Nokes, who represents the area including Stockbridge, the Wallops and the Wellows, has been outspoken on her views on equality in the past.
She's raised concerns that economic recovery plans after the pandemic are focusing on male-dominated sectors:
"The priority has been about build, build, build - shovel ready projects. These are not sectors which normally attract women, so the Government needs to be doing more. We're suggested that one way to do that would be to set aside a certain number of places for women."