Sarah Newton, MP for Truro and Falmouth, joined Conservative campaigners in an initiative to get more women involved in democracy and politics.

The MP, together with a team of volunteers, handed out leaflets in Truro and gave advice on how to get involved in representing their local community. The campaigners also honoured one hundred years since women were able to stand for parliament.

The ‘Ask Her To Stand’ campaign aims to encourage more women to stand for election, as just 32% of MPs in the House of Commons are women.

Sarah Newton said: “I’ve long campaigned to get more women into public life at all levels because greater female representation makes a real difference to everyone’s lives.”

“The same is true of the many other groups who do not see themselves properly reflected in public life: people from minority ethnic groups, members of the LGBT community, people with disabilities, or those from less privileged backgrounds,” she said.

The Representation of the People Act passed in 1918, which gave some women the right to vote. On November 21st of that year, the Parliament Qualification of Women Act was passed. Women could now stand for Parliament for the first time.

Women could also vote in general elections in December of that year, with 8.5 million women eligible to vote.

“Let us celebrate this centenary and give thanks to those who gave their all so that we might be here today. But let us also commit ourselves to carrying forward the torch they passed to us,” Sarah went on to say.