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Women, Justice and Gender Equality

I will give way in a moment. The short speech that I was going to make is rapidly lengthening. To return to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis), we hardly ever say now, because it has been said so often, but it is true, that Margaret Thatcher made a huge difference to the ability of women in the United Kingdom and throughout the western world to achieve to the highest levels. After she became Prime Minister, nobody could say that it cannot be done. When I was a child, I said I was interested in politics, and I suppose that I argued in a childlike way that I wanted to be a Member of Parliament. People said, ““You can’t be a Member of Parliament. You’re a girl.”” Margaret Thatcher made an enormous difference not only by being there but by being such a success. This country, this place and the women of this country owe her an enormous debt of gratitude.