Women in Westminster: In Conversation With Caroline Nokes MP
Caroline Nokes MP is one of the Patrons of Women in Westminster: The 100. As nominations open for our 2025 list, PoliticsHome sat down with Nokes to reflect on her journey in politics so far and to discuss what she and her fellow Patrons will be looking out for in this year’s nominations
Since entering Parliament in 2010, Caroline Nokes MP has been a strong and consistent advocate for women and girls. From sexual harassment in the workplace to menopause and reproductive health, the MP for Romsey and Southampton North has never shied away from speaking out about issues that affect the lives of millions of British women.
The former chair of the influential Women and Equalities Select Committee also believes that celebrating the achievements and contributions of women in politics remains vital. It is why she acts as one of the Patrons for Women in Westminster.
“I've spent my entire career never thinking that I'm quite good enough,” she candidly tells us. “I think women suffer from greater levels of self-doubt than their male counterparts, and they absolutely shouldn't.”
When she reflects on her own time in the Commons, Nokes does identify signs of progress. She cites the Women’s Health Strategy, action on domestic abuse, and legislation on sexual harassment as areas where policymakers have delivered real impact for women.
“These are all pivotal issues that impact women,” she explains. “Both parliament and politics have changed during the last 14 years. Parliament has started looking at these issues, talking about them, and finally legislating on them.”
And Nokes believes that the culture of Westminster itself is changing. As someone who has spoken openly in the past about the sexism and harassment she has experienced as a female MP, she detects a changing culture that is making Parliament more inclusive environment.
“It is very different now to how it was in 2010,” she tells us. “Some of that is about the average age of MPs getting younger but a massive amount of it is about the gender balance in Parliament improving. We are now at over 40 per cent of MPs being women. That’s a huge stride forward and will make a big difference.”
Nokes is optimistic that the record number of women in Parliament will also deliver opportunities for greater collaboration and cooperation.
“Female parliamentarians are much more likely to work together on cross-party issues than their male counterparts,” she observes. “I think it was Jess Phillips who once said, ‘I don't care who I have to work with to get things done’. I think that's the stark reality.”
She describes the reasons that lie behind women MPs working more collaboratively as “complex” but speculates that it may partly be a consequence of the difficult journeys that many women face on their route to the green benches.
“For any woman to have been elected to Parliament or to have a prominent role in public life, she will have had to work harder than all of her male contemporaries,” she tells us. “That means that they arrive with a sort of grim determination to work really hard and to leave their mark.’”
Nokes acknowledges that the barriers experienced by women are certainly not unique to Parliament and are encountered by women in all walks of life. She argues that the compromises many women have to make when seeking election or moving into a senior role shape the way that they operate once in post.
“I think to a certain extent it is about increased pragmatism,” she explains. “Women in the workplace have recognised for decades that to get on, you have to not necessarily work harder, but certainly work smarter.”
Although Nokes believes significant progress has been made, she cautions that it would be a mistake to view the battle for equality as won.
“It's better now than it's ever been but it’s certainly not perfect,” she says reflecting on the continuing importance of celebrating the achievements of women in public life. “And although we've made massive progress, it would be very easy to slip backward. We've got a long way to go yet.”
It is one of the reasons why Nokes acts as one of the Patrons of Women in Westminster: The 100, which recognises and celebrates the contribution of women working across UK politics. With nominations now open for the 2025 Women in Westminster list, it feels like a good time to ask Nokes what she and the other Patrons will be looking out for.
Nokes tells us that she would particularly like to see more nominations for women doing vitally important work who may not always be in the public eye. She also wants to put the emphasis firmly on women who have made a tangible difference in the last year.
“We have seen a lot of new MPs come in and I think that's a really exciting time for Women in Westminster,” she says. “This isn't about being one of the 100 most influential women in Westminster simply because you've been there forever. It's about having done something in the last 12 months that is truly noteworthy.”
Ultimately, Nokes sees initiatives like Women in Westminster: The 100 as important in sending out a message that there is a range of opportunities for people in public life to make a positive difference to the nation.
“We want to inspire the next generation,” she says. “You don't have to be from a particular type of school. You don't have to be one gender or another. You don't have to be from one ethnicity. This is a place where anyone can work.”
PoliticsHome Newsletters
Get the inside track on what MPs and Peers are talking about. Sign up to The House's morning email for the latest insight and reaction from Parliamentarians, policy-makers and organisations.
