Sheffield Heeley's MP: 'Don't put limitations on what you can achieve as a woman'

We've been speaking to Louise Haigh as part of International Women's Day

Author: Chris Davis-SmithPublished 8th Mar 2022

The MP for Sheffield Heeley's calling on young women across South Yorkshire to 'put their name forward' when it comes to getting started in politics.

Speaking to us as part of International Women's Day, Louise Haigh says she's had to 'break down many barriers' during her political career so far.

The 34-year-old believes more diversity is still required in the sector:

"If you look around and see things wrong in your neighbourhood or society, then you still have the power to change it.

"Politics can still change things, and we need people from all walks of life in order to do that.

"I'm asked to speak quite often to young women about how to break into politics, and about my own journey.

"I don't have some magical path that I went down. I was in the right place at the right time and prepared to put my name forward.

"Don't let the limitations you place on yourself limit what you do in the world."

We also asked the former Shadow Minister for Civil Service and Digital Reform about some of the more testing experiences in her career so far:

"One of the biggest challenges of being a woman in politics is often being the only woman in the room.

"That's been the case through a lot of my career though. I worked in finance before I was elected, and it was exactly the same; I'd more often than not be the only woman in meetings and the youngest person there.

"I've strived to be the voice for women in Sheffield and in Parliament.

"This has allowed me to bring forward voices and experiences that wouldn't be heard, unless there was another young woman in my place."

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