Joyce celebrates 90 years of women's right to vote, but calls for ‘genuine progress’ by centenary

Labour Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales JOYCE WATSON AM has called on the Welsh Assembly to support the launch of '2008: Women & the Vote'.

She has tabled an Assembly statement of opinion, celebrating achievements but calling for further progress by the centenary in 2018.

JOYCE WATSON AM said:

“2008 is a year for celebration for women from all over the UK.

“Today, 6th February is the 90th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act, where some women won the right to vote and to be elected to Parliament.

“Later this year it will be 80 years since women were granted equal voting rights with men.

“The launch of '2008: Women & the Vote' marks the beginning of a year celebrating the progress that has been made throughout those 90 years.

“This anniversary is also an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the principle of equal representation.

“In Wales, we can be proud of the fact that nearly half of our elected representatives in the Assembly are women. However, the situation in local government and in other parts of the UK is less equal.

“I have called on the Welsh Assembly to work to ensure that by 2018, the Centenary of women's right to vote, genuine progress will have been made.”

For further information on 2008: Women & the Vote see www.womenandthevote.com