On this day in 1918, just days after Armistice, the Qualification of Women Act was passed in Parliament, allowing women to stand for Parliament for the first time.

Since then we have only had 491 women MPs, compared to 4503 men. I am the 431st female MP.

In celebrating the centenary of when women were first able to stand for Parliament, I would acknowledge that there is still much more to do to encourage more women to stand for public office but I hope today’s event in Parliament inspires more to come forward.