Nicola Sturgeon backs women board quotas campaign

NICOLA Sturgeon has pledged her support for a campaign to ensure women get 50/50 representation on the boards of public bodies.

By SCOTT MACNAB Wednesday, 25th February 2015, 12:00 am

Nicola Sturgeon gave her backing to 50/50 campaign. Picture: Getty

The Women 50/50 campaign has welcomed the First Minister’s endorsement of the drive for 50 per cent quotas on public boards, in councils and in the Scottish Parliament by 2020.

“I truly believe there should be no limit to ambition on what anyone can achieve,” Ms Sturgeon said in a letter to the campaign.

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“If you are good enough and if you work hard enough, the sky is the limit. I am happy to work with all organisations and individuals who share this aspiration and I am therefore pleased to give my support to the Women 50/50 campaign.”

The campaign has already gained cross-party support from MSPs.

Labour deputy leader Kezia Dugdale is already signed up and sits on the steering group along with senior Nationalist MSP Christina McKelvie and Alison Johnstone of the Scottish Green Party.

Talat Yaqoob, the chair of Women 50/50, said: “To have the support of the First Minister shows that the issue of gender equality is being taken seriously.”

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