We are not Thatcher's children

„Margaret Thatcher was in the tradition of women MPs who had no particular interest in women. The first woman MP to take her seat, Nancy Astor, was actually anti-suffragette. She had inherited her seat from her husband after he went into the House of Lords. Despite her experience at the hands of a violent first husband, she was no social reformer. And Bessie Braddock on the Labour side soon toughened up after Churchill's relentless bullying of her.

Women in Parliament are caught on the horns of a dilemma. Most of us are naturally interested in issues that most concern women, such as primary schools, public health, housing and safety. And so we are encouraged to work in those areas, but it is wrong to exclude women from departments such as defence or foreign policy. Peace is very much a woman's issue. Mo Mowlem demonstrated that with her role as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. She was an extraordinarily able and charismatic politician, who did vital work leading to peace in Northern Ireland.

I am part of a record breaking new intake of Conservative women MPs. There are now 47 women out of 306 Conservative MPs and 36 of us are new. And one year on, the new intake has found its way and is getting organised.”