Labour Conference 2025: Why Women’s Equality Can’t Be an Afterthought

I’m writing this on the train back from Liverpool. I’m tired, but motivated. Some people question whether party conferences are worth the time. But as I sit here on this overcrowded train, one thing is clear – we must be there. Because too many people in power, or who want to be in power, still don’t prioritise women in their policymaking. 

This year’s conference was striking for the number of events focused on violence against women and girls – a #VAWGTakeover.  The energy and expertise on every panel was clear, but frustration in the VAWG sector was palpable. Yes, the pledge to halve VAWG is welcome, but we are still waiting for the long promised national strategy from the Home Office. Survivor services are hanging by a thread; the uncertainty is unfair, and dangerous.  

At Fawcett, our agenda is broad because sexism touches every aspect of women’s lives. Whether it’s work, home, public services, politics or online spaces, we analyse, expose and challenge the impact of misogyny from childhood to old age. That means when we’re at events on a range of topics, whether AI, pensions, health or education, we make it our mission to ensure gender equality is part of that conversation.  

We co-hosted an event with Hacked Off – the national campaign fighting for greater press regulation and responsibility. Our Chair, Harriet Harman, spoke at the event and it was well attended by MPs, parliamentarians as well as Hacked Off’s founder, Hugh Grant.  Hacked Off campaigner, Mandy Garner, shared her horrifying story of the papers publishing CCTV of the death of her daughter hours after it happened – and the unacceptably poor response of the ‘regulator’ IPSO in the aftermath.  

How the press treats us, as women, as citizens, is key to tackling the rise of abuse and misogyny online. In 2023, we complained to IPSO about Jeremy Clarkson’s 2023 column fantasising about throwing excrement at Meghan Markle. Strikingly the only time a complaint has ever been upheld on the basis of sex. That’s the threshold for “unacceptable sexism” in the British press. Think about that. It is simply not good enough. We will be pushing hard for tougher editorial standards to tackle sexism, and we look forward to working much more with Hacked Off in 2026.  

I asked the new Secretary of State, Liz Kendall, about AI and the risks it poses to women’s financial equality, particularly its impact on the gender pay gap. She highlighted the importance of getting more women into STEM – a crucial part of the solution – but the broader challenge goes further. AI is already reshaping workplaces and pay structures, and without decisive government action, women risk losing out. This is an issue Fawcett will not let drop. 

And there was another theme running through conference – one that goes beyond party politics. The rise of the far right. We are non-partisan. We will work with anyone who wants to advance gender equality. But we cannot ignore the links between misogyny and far-right movements: disaffected men radicalised online, turning their anger on women and minorities as scapegoats. We spoke to Hope Not Hate about this, and we’re determined to dig deeper into these structural misogynistic drivers. Because the normalisation of misogyny is undeniable. This isn’t just teenage boys in their bedrooms saying stupid things. It is a true shift in societal norms, and at Fawcett we are determined to do more to fight back.  

Women have campaigned tirelessly for decades. And the progress is remarkable. But the gains we’ve fought for are fragile. We cannot allow politicians to treat women’s rights as a bargaining chip to win votes. Women deserve to live in safety, with dignity, and on equal terms with men. And right now, I’m not convinced every politician even sees that as an aspiration. 

That’s why Fawcett is stepping into a new era. We will be more forthright. More vocal. More unapologetic in calling out misogyny wherever it appears – whether in government, the media, workplaces or online. I don’t care about the colour of a rosette or the name on the ballot. I care about women’s equality, and Fawcett will speak up relentlessly until it is achieved. 

Yes, there were some brilliant women’s events at this conference. But let’s be honest – in the conversations about the economy, AI, or the rise of the far right, women’s experiences were too often an afterthought. That must change. 

Next year, we hope to be at every party conference, flying the flag for women’s equality. Being louder than ever. Because this fight is far from over. In fact, it has never felt more urgent. 

Women’s rights are under threat. Join Fawcett and add your voice to the movement demanding change. Together we can push back against sexism and inequality.

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