Contemporary context
If over 18 and registered to vote, UK citizens can exercise their right to vote and be represented in Parliament.
However, Parliament is sometimes criticised for its lack of representation of women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
In November 2008, the House of Commons agreed to establish a new committee, to be chaired by the Speaker and known as the Speaker's conference.
Speaker's conference
The Speaker's Conference was convened on 12 November 2008 to consider the disparity between the representation of women, ethnic minorities and disabled people in the House of Commons and their representation in the UK population at large. It worked through 2009 collecting evidence and published its final report in January 2010.
Page last updated August 2016.