Charity Platform 51, which works towards a world where “women and girls are in control of their lives”, is highlighting an MP from each party during Conference season who has made a stand for equality and inclusion.

For the Liberal Democrats, it’s Jo Swinson who has been given the accolade of women and the week after her keynote speech in Brighton. They also recognise her decade of work on issues relating to equalities.

Platform 51 say:

Jo has also chaired the Liberal Democrats Women’s Policy Working Groupwhich focuses on tackling some of the key areas that Platform 51 works with women and girls.  These include money (pay, pensions & benefits), sex (sexual orientation, abuse & maternity), relationships (work/life balance, carers & family), health & beauty (body image & health) and power (representation, fear of crime & public role models).

Jo co-founded the Campaign for Body Confidence, challenging stereotypes of women which can result in unhappiness, eating disorders and low self-esteem in women and girls. The Campaign presents awards to individuals and organisations that present women in a realistic way, such as the Boots No7 ‘Ta Dah’ range which rejected retouching and celebrated the idea of real women.  This is an issue important to us at Platform 51 and we were recently delighted to secure funding to work with young women at our Knowsley centre, to inform and empower them about speaking up on the matter of stereotyped body images.

This week, Jo gave a rousing, well-received speech at the party conference stating her priorities in her new role as Minister for Business and Equalities.

She spoke of inclusivity and how it was a ‘no-brainer’ that in times of recession we have to draw on ‘everyone’s skills and potentials’: “Making it harder for people to play an active role in our economy because they are women, or have a disability, or are parents, is a shocking waste of talent“.

You can read their whole profile here.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings