Deputy Mayor Diaries : Reading & Whitley Multicultural Women's Group Open Day

On Saturday 27 September I was invited to the Reading & Whitley Multicultural Woman's Group open day at RISC.  The theme of the event was 'Women Against the Odds'.

Various speakers were asked to talks about women, their role duding WW1n and their role today and in the future.  Speakers were Cllr Meri O'Connell, Dr Jenny Woods, ReadiBus, Lee Evan J.P, organiser Uda Chalk and MP Rob Wilson.

During the event Rob Wilson commented on the Labour group's increasing representation from the various different ethnic groups in Reading, in particular the recent election of Sophia James in Katesgrove.  It was great to have this recognised.

 I spoke about women in WW1 and the challenges we face today and in the future.  You can read the outline of my speech here but, as usual when I am speaking about something I care about, I elaborated and also included:

• The women machinists at Dagenham Ford who helped bring about the Equalities Act of 1970.
• The Let Toys Be Toys campaign who are trying to end gender stereotyping with toys.
• Women facing danger during and after birth - high maternal mortality.
• Women facing adversity throughout the word such as in Syria.
• Malala who was shot for wanting an education.

Although we have come a long way, we still have a way to go for true equality.  This is something both men and women need to work together to achieve.

As well as thought provoking talks, we were also entertained by some very talented musicians (see photos below) and the afternoon was well M.C'd by Annette Levy.

The group meet on the last Sunday of the month 4-6 at RISC March to November.  They are always happy to welcome new members.

Caribbean Serenaders were fab

Violinist Endre Adams

Organiser Uda Chalk

Reading Labour supports Equal Marriage - and calls on Reading’s two Tory MPs to do the same

Reading & District Labour Party Media Release

3rd February 2013

Reading Labour are calling on Conservative MP’s Alok Sharma and Rob Wilson to vote in favour of the Equal Marriage Bill coming before Parliament this Tuesday (5th February), which allows same sex couples the right to get married.

International Women's Day #IWD - This Government Has Been A Disaster For Working Women

To me International Women's Day is a celebration of all we achieved and a reminder about how much more we have to achieve for women all over the world.  We should strive for better rights for women, better safety, education, healthcare and equality. When I hear about the cuts being brought about by the Tory/Lib Dem coalition Government  I really do wonder if they have lost sight of this.

My female friends, who are mothers like me, are facing some tough choices like food vs fuel and giving up work because childcare is no longer affordable.

Here is a Reading & District Labour Party press release by Women's Officr and candidate in Park, Rachael Chrisp: 

“This Government has been a disaster for working women” – Rachael Chrisp

Reading Labour Party Women’s Officer, and Park candidate, Rachael Chrisp has labelled the Tory-led Government “a disaster for working women” in a message issued to mark International Women’s Day.

Ms Chrisp points out that one of the first cuts George Osborne made was in help with paying for childcare, and goes on: “And then Mr Osborne froze Child Benefit, made women work longer before reaching pension age, and cut Tax Credits – 450 working women in Reading will lose £75 a week as from April 1^st because they are working less than 24 hours a week. And those that want to work longer hours are often being frustrated because the Government is offering big retailers the chance to use people on ‘work experience’ instead, people pushed into putting in the hours without getting the pay.

“Mr Cameron promised that this would be the most family-friendly government ever,” she says, “but as with so much else he promised it has been anything but.  The truth is that working women who did not cause the banking crisis are being made to pay for it.  There are twenty-two male millionaires in the Cabinet and only 49 women among 305 Tory MPs, so perhaps that’s hardly a surprise.”