In 1919, Nancy Astor became the first female MP to sit in Parliament. American-born, she arrived in Britain as a divorcee and single mother. She faced chauvinism at Westminster, but stood up to her detractors with what became her famous quick wit. Jane looks at the day that Nancy took her seat in the Chamber, and discusses the subsequent attempts to increase the number of women MPs, which currently stands at just nineteen percent. Jane is joined by Lesley Abdela,Ìýjournalist and women's rights campaigner andÌýDr Wendy Stokes from London Metropolitan University.
