North East Hertfordshire MP Oliver Heald hosted five young women from schools in his constituency at the House of Commons on Thursday to mark International Women’s Day. The girls went for a tour of No 10 and then listened to debates on women in Afghanistan and other areas around international women’s rights. They were able to talk to Oliver about being an MP and improved opportunities and facilities for women MPs. They were then invited to tea with the Speaker.
Commenting Oliver said “I was pleased that a group of young women from North East Hertfordshire joined with girls from all over the country for a day at Westminster to mark International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day has been celebrated since 1934 and the theme this year was ‘Inspiring Change’. I hope the girls were inspired to consider a career in politics or public service but above all I hope they will take away the idea that we must all challenge ourselves to go further with our careers than we first thought possible.”