I celebrated this by going to the PLP meeting [and saying], "I'd like to congratulate the parliamentary party on this real step forward for proper recognition of women in politics. And nobody's willy has dropped off."

At the 1989 Labour Party Shadow Cabinet election, 4 women had been chosen for the first time (a rule change meant voting for 3 women was compulsory). Labour's Shadow Cabinet elections were abolished in 2011. At the 1987 general election a record 41 women (21 Labour) had been elected (6.3% of the 650 total).