The Labour Party is looking to recruit an Executive Directors in six different areas to strengthen the Party for the future.

View more information at: http://www.labour.org.uk/new_job

Sarah Richardson, a Labour campaigner in Milton Keynes, shares her experiences of working with other local Labour women on a recent Day of Action:

Inspired by the Fawcett Society’s ‘Day of Action’, Milton Keynes Women’s Group held a Christmas ‘Don’t Turn Back Time’ street stall on Saturday 17^th December. Representatives from the women’s group took to the high street in Stony Stratford to speak to people about how the coalition’s approach to cutting the deficit is turning back the clock on women’s equality. Women are being disproprtionately affected by cuts, and this was certainly backed up by the experiences from women who stopped to speak to us. One woman, a casualty of a 20 year record for women’s unemployment told me how since losing her job she has had to move back into her mother’s house, and is currently sharing a bed with her young daughter. The cavalier attitude the government is taking toward’s womens lives and equalities is all too clear.

You may have seen LWN’s recent media posts on the current Police and Crime Commissioner vacancies in England and Wales. Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Secretary, has written the following message for LWN members on the importance of women standing as candidates for election on behalf of the Labour Party:

“Next year will see elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales. PCCs will have an impact on issues ranging from the number of police patrolling our streets, to improving street safety and funding domestic abuse prevention projects. These elections will be important for Labour, for community safety, and we need talented women to think about standing. …

Ahead of the elections next November, Labour wants to hear from a diverse range of candidates, from all walks of life, who are interested in becoming a Police and Crime Commissioner in the area in which they live.

This is a great opportunity for Labour women who are interested in standing for office to gain valuable experience as candidates and, if selected, to represent their local communities on key public policy issues.

“There are more men called Roger on the ballot paper than there are women”

Seema Malhotra is standing as Labour’s Parliamentary candidate in the upcoming Feltham & Heston by-election.

Seema grew up in Feltham, and went to school in Heston. She is co-founder and Director of the Fabian Women’s Network and a former National Chair of the Fabian Society, as well as a former adviser to Harriet Harman during her stint as leader of the opposition last year. If elected, Seema will become the constituency’s first ever female MP. Kathryn Perera caught up with Seema on the campaign trail.

Seema, congratulations on your selection. Is it true that you’re the only female candidate standing in the by-election?

LWN works to ensure that Labour women’s voices are represented in all areas of public life. Research from the Women’s National Commission (which the Government scrapped earlier this year) did much to highlight the disparity between the representation of women and men on public bodies. For example, in 2009 just 32.6% of public appointments were women.

The Government recently announced plans to create a database of individuals who are interested in being considered for public appointments. We would urge LWN members to apply for consideration – here are the full details: