Women in Westminster: The 100 2025 list is revealed!
3 min read
I’m delighted to be back for the sixth year of The House magazine’s Women in Westminster: The 100.
The 100 celebrates the achievements and the valuable role women play in public life by recognising 100 women from across the world of Westminster, who are leading the way in politics and public services: from parliamentarians, journalists and civil servants to campaigners, think tankers, public affairs professionals and beyond.
2024 was a year of elections, with almost half of the world’s population heading to the polls to vote. Here in the UK, Rishi Sunak caught everyone by surprise when he stood outside Downing Street and called an early general election. What followed was a change of the ruling party for the first time in 14 years and an influx of new MPs, ministers and peers. It’s safe to say it was an eventful year in Westminster.
Amidst all this change, there have been some incredible achievements for women: a record number of women were elected to Parliament; the first female Chancellor was appointed; we have the most gender-balanced Cabinet in history; and the opposition is led by the first Black woman to lead a major political party in the UK. In the Civil Service, for the first time, half of Whitehall departments with a permanent secretary are run by women. While there’s much to celebrate, there’s still a long way to go, and we know that women in and around Westminster still face a number of challenges and their accomplishments often go overlooked.
As we celebrate these remarkable achievements, we must also look to the future. As our cover shows, we hope these pages will inspire the next generation and the future women of Westminster. Far too often, young people – especially girls – see politics as a completely different world from their own. But when young girls see women leading debates in Parliament, shaping policies, holding government to account and making a difference in their communities, they are shown what is possible.
The 100 list is based on what each woman has achieved in the previous year, their influence and their ability to inspire others, and this year we are proud to introduce a lifetime achievement recognition. I would like to pay special tribute to our Women in Westminster Patrons who have made this year’s list possible and welcome our new Patron, Sienna Rodgers, deputy editor of The House.
By sharing the stories of The 100, we hope to inspire young girls to imagine themselves in roles they may never have thought attainable and show that politics is a world where they truly belong – where their voices matter, their ambitions are valid and their potential is limitless.
You can view the full The 100 at www.womeninwestminster.co.uk or read our publication here.
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