A National Portrait Series Celebrating Women in Parliament
The 40% Project, led by the Royal Photographic Society’s Women in Photography group, is a nationwide portrait series marking a historic moment in UK democracy.
Following the 2024 General Election, women now make up around 40% of Members of Parliament — the highest level of representation in British history.
To mark this milestone, women photographers from across the UK have come together to create a photographic record of the women shaping Parliament today.
Through portrait photography, the project celebrates the individuality, leadership and contribution of women MPs, while also recognising the important role photography plays in documenting moments of social change.
Why the Project Matters
For much of Parliament’s history, women’s voices were absent from the chamber.
While representation is improving, the journey towards equality has taken more than a century since women first gained the right to stand for Parliament.
The 40% Project exists to mark this moment — not simply as a statistic, but as a cultural and historical milestone.
Portraiture has long been used to record those who shape our society. By creating this collective body of work, the project ensures that this moment in political history is seen, remembered and preserved.
A Collaborative Effort Across the UK
The project has brought together photographers from across the country — including RPS members, students and emerging photographers — all volunteering their time and skills to take part.
Each photographer has worked directly with an MP to create a portrait that reflects something about the person behind the public role — whether photographed in Westminster, within their constituency, or in a place that holds personal significance.
Together these portraits form a unique visual archive of women in Parliament today.
The 40% Gallery
The portraits are published in the 40% Gallery, an evolving collection that brings together the work of photographers from across the UK and the women they have photographed.
The gallery celebrates the diversity of women in Parliament and the many photographic approaches used to represent them.
👉 View the gallery here:
https://rps.org/groups/women-in-photography/the-40-project/the-40-gallery/
Looking Ahead
As the project nears completion, the portraits will form the basis of a wider legacy for the project.
Plans include:
• A photobook bringing together the full series of portraits
• Exhibitions showcasing selected works
• The creation of a historical photographic archive marking this milestone in UK political representation
A Collective Achievement
The 40% Project has only been possible thanks to the generosity and commitment of the photographers who volunteered their time, and the MPs who agreed to be part of the project.
Together they have created something more than a portrait series — a visual record of a historic moment in Parliament.
