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Labour Women's Network

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Labour Women's Network
Full nameLabour Women's Network
Short nameLWN
ChairAbena Oppong-Asare, MP
Founded1988
Headquarters
IdeologySocial democracy
Political positionCentre-left
National affiliationLabour Party
European affiliationParty of European Socialists
International affiliationProgressive Alliance
Website
www.lwn.org.uk

The Labour Women's Network (LWN) is the socialist society officially representing the women's wing of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom. It is a grassroots group which provides campaigning, training and support for women within the party.

History

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The organisation was founded in 1988, with the aim of helping more women in the Labour Party to be chosen as candidates, and become elected as members of parliament. The Labour Women's Network was started by four women: Barbara Follett, Barbara Roche, Hilary De Lyon and Jean Black following the 1987 United Kingdom general election, which saw a very low number of women being elected to the British parliament.[3][4]

In 2011, Jo Cox, MP was elected as the first ever LWN chair, until she was elected member of parliament for Batley and Spen in 2015. Following her death, the Labour Party and Labour Women's Network started the 'Jo Cox Women in Leadership Scheme', which would help invest in training for women within the party.[5]

Purpose

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The Labour Women's Network is a big tent organisation which accepts women with different views of women issues within the Labour Party. It does not make policy, however its prime purpose is to help and provide training for women who wish to stand for public office in both local and national politics.[3]

Structure

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The organisation is run by a general committee, with elections taking place every year. Any woman can stand for election providing they have been a member for at least 4 months before proceedings begin. Committee members serve a 2 year term, unless there is a by-election.

Committee

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The committee of the Labour Women's Network, as of August 2024 was:[6]

Position Name
Chair Abena Oppong-Asare, MP
Secretary Kiran Mahil
Treasurer Cllr Katherine Dunne
Training Lead Nan Sloane
Committee member Cllr Sharon Thompson
Committee member Ashley Dalton, MP
Committee member Cllr Bisi Osundeko
Committee member Kate Dearden
Committee member Cllr Anntoinette
Committee member Cllr Rosa Bolger
Committee member Cllr Elle Cumbo

References

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  1. ^ O'Shea, Stephen; Buckley, James (8 December 2015). "Corbyn's Labour party set for swanky HQ move". CoStar. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Contact". Labour Party. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b "A history of Labour Women's Network". Labour Women's Network. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Labour leadership: Who are the party's affiliate groups backing?". BBC News. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Jo Cox women in Leadership Scheme". Labour Women's Network. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Your Committee". Labour Women's Network. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
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