Where have all the women gone?

An astonishing 9.1m women did not vote in the 2010 general election.

Yesterday (February 11) the Labour party launched the ‘biggest ever women’s campaign’ to reach out to Britain’s missing women voters. The campaign tour will visit over 70 constituencies before May to talk to female voters about the issues that matter to them.

The tour comes as new statistics show that a shocking 9.1m women did not vote in the 2010 general election with the gap between women and men voters growing wider at each election.

“Getting Britain’s missing women voters registered and ready to vote has never mattered more,” said Unite’s Diana Holland. “Polls show that women are more likely to vote Labour and rightly so. When in power Labour has done more to help women with progressive policies from divorce law reform to equal rights and equal pay laws.

“Labour’s Woman to Woman campaign shows that it is the only party ready to deliver for women in terms of its people, policies and politics. The Tories have failed women miserably in the last five years. Women have been hardest hit by this government’s welfare and tax credit cuts, with 70 per cent of the cuts falling on them.

It’s all to play for. All parties will be battling hard for the female vote in May’s election after a TNS poll for BBC’s Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour found a disproportionate number remained undecided – 35 per cent compared to 25 per cent of men.

Balance of power

Women hold the balance of power. At the election they will now have a clear choice between a failing plan that has brought nothing but misery or a better plan for working families.

Harriet Harman, MP, deputy leader of the Labour party said, “Under this government the progress in women’s lives has stalled and is now falling back. For women to make progress there must be a Labour government and women’s votes will be key to getting a Labour government.

Siobhan Endean, Unite national officer equalities agreed. She said, “Labour has the right policies for women. It’s not patronising for Labour to focus on issues that affect women’s lives. It shows that Labour takes the issue of missing women voters very seriously, something that the Tories don’t seem to share.

“Women hold the balance of power, but they are disengaging from politics. That’s a scandal. That’s why it’s essential woman make sure they are registered to vote.”

Unite is also going on the road from March 1 to 15 to get Britain’s missing voters registered to vote. We’re part of a coalition working to drive up voter registration over fears that millions have fallen off the electoral roll in recent months because of changes to the voter registration system. Get on board the bus. Find out more here

Register now

Are you registered to have your say in May? Register online in minutes here and join Unite’s coalition #NoVoteNoVoice campaign Find out more here.