The number of female MPs is likely to increase significantly (Picture: PA)

A record number of female MPs are likely to be elected to parliament on June 8, even if Labour slumps to its worst result since the war, new analysis has revealed.

Some 200 women could take their place in the House of Commons if the Conservatives win an increased majority, up nine on the total elected at the 2015 General Election.

The number is roughly the same whether there is a small swing to the Tories or whether the party enjoys a landslide victory.

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Were Labour to defy the opinion polls and end up the largest party in a hung parliament, however, the number of women MPs could rise as high as 212.




The Press Association has calculated the figures by projecting the seats that would change hands on June 8 based on a variety of outcomes.

A minimum of 200 women in the House of Commons would mean nearly one in three MPs is female.

Around 92 would be Conservatives, the largest number in the party’s history and a big jump on the 68 elected in 2015.

Labour would have around 82 female MPs, down from 99 in 2015 and well below the party’s all-time high of 101 in 1997.

Responding to the PA’s findings, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society Katie Ghose welcomed the likely rise in female MPs, but described the increase on 2015 as ‘glacial’.

‘It shows there is much more to be done to achieve gender equality in politics and public life,’ she said.

‘Whatever the result on June 8 – and it looks like there will be a small rise in the proportion of women elected – parties need to up their game, not just for the next Parliamentary elections but for our local councils, metro mayor roles and institutions across the UK.

‘We cannot settle for incremental change. It’s time for some real momentum on women’s representation in politics.’

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The PA’s figures also show that were every party to win exactly the same seats as at the 2015 General Election, a total of 206 women MPs would be elected, up 15 on the number in 2015.

In the event of a large Tory majority, the amount of female MPs in England could fall from 177 to 167.

By contrast, the number in Wales and Scotland would increase, from nine to 10 and 18 to 20 respectively.

Northern Ireland would see no change, with two female MPs elected.

Leader of the Women’s Equality Party, Sophie Walker, said the projected increase was a reason for celebration, but highlighted that the election of 200 female MPs would still place Britain behind countries such as Zimbabwe, Uganda, Spain and Mexico in terms of female representation in parliament.

She said: ‘This is particularly worrying as we move towards Brexit and the drafting of the Great Repeal Bill: government must be closely scrutinised to ensure the continuation of women’s rights to equal pay, pregnancy protection and part-time workers’ rights.



‘Women’s Equality support proportional representation, which is shown to work better for women and minorities and bring the diversity of experience that Westminster needs.’

Frances Scott, director of the 50:50 Parliament campaign group, which advocates an equal split among male and female MPs, said the projections were positive, but warned that there was a long way to go before the gender representation gap was filled.

She said: ‘Of course it’s good that it’s going in the right direction, but it’s appalling that it’s still like this.

Ms Scott said she believed women required greater levels of encouragement and consideration in order to stand for election.

She said: ‘I think sexism still exists, women (are) still subjected to dreadful comments when they stand. I think it’s about giving women self-confidence.’