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Fawcett : Women’s votes for the upcoming May elections are still up for grabs

Results from the latest polls indicate that women’s votes are still up for grabs the race for London’s mayor. Fifty four per cent of women surveyed in an Ipsos MORI poll are certain to vote in the London Mayoral and London Assembly elections on May 1st. However, only 61% of these women have decided their first choice for Mayor. Over a third of women said they are likely to change their mind on who they will vote for, indicating there is a mass of women’s votes yet to be secured by any candidate ahead of the elections.

Are candidates responding to women’s key issues?

Fawcett has interviewed the key mayoral candidates on their campaign priorities to find out how they plan to respond to women’s concerns. Candidates were asked how they will address women’s rights and promote equality between men and women and specifically how they would make a difference to ethnic minority women.

The response from Ken Livingstone, Labour Party promises work on economic equality and fair pay for women, including a new Women’s Equality at Work Index that will rate London’s businesses. He also reaffirmed his commitment to creating a safe city for London’s women, making transport more accessible, extending affordable childcare across London and to lobbying government for equal pay audits and tougher measures on discrimination.

Liberal Democrat Party candidate Brian Paddick stated his commitment to promoting the position of ethnic minority women by setting up an office to promote women’s participation in politics. He also promises to consult fully with women to ensure he is addressing their concerns; this includes lobbying the London Development Agency to work with grassroots women’s organisations and ensuring that women’s voluntary groups are fully resourced and supported.

Sian Berry, Green Party candidate reaffirmed an earlier pledge to actively tackle the pay gap by ensuring that the GLA and all private companies that are employed by the public sector carry out gender pay audits. She also confirmed a commitment to address the poverty facing many women by ensuring lower paid workers are paid the London living wage.

Conservative Party candidate, Boris Johnson, has yet to respond to the invitation to participate.

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Notes
(1) Survey commissioned by The Observer and conducted between 8 – 9th April 2008.
(2) In comparison, 53% of men polled were certain to vote. Seventy-one percent of these had definitely decided who to vote for.
(3) Ipsos MORI polling commissioned by UNISON shows that transport is the most important issue for women in deciding who to vote for as London mayor. Women voters are also prioritising environmental, education and health issues more highly than men.
(4) The video interviews and transcripts can be downloaded from our website. femocracy also interviewed Merlene Emerson, Liberal Democrat candidate for the London Assembly, on her experiences as an ethnic minority woman candidate in the London elections.

Footnote from Women in London:

There is also a supplemental question on funding for primary women's services - make you voice heard!