Portrait of Ruth Margaret Cadbury MP, who has represented Brentford and Isleworth since 2015 as a member of the Labour Party, photographed outside the historic Gillette Clock Tower in Isleworth, at the heart of her constituency.
Nesil Caliskan MP is the nominated Labour Member of Parliament from Barking, East London, since 2024. She is also the first elected parliamentarian of Turkish Cypriot origin in the United Kingdom.
Nesil is a warm woman in her mid-thirties who can manage a very busy schedule and care for a young child. Known for advocating for families, visiting local nurseries, and discussing childcare needs in Parliament, she now has the chance to see her own child using the Parliament nursery. We met in Westminster as I was squeezed into her very busy schedule on a rainy day in October.
This portrait was taken soon after entering St Stephen’s Hall. She sat on a bench near a decorated window. We talked about her long-standing involvement with politics and commitment to represent her community and, of course, about the difficulties that parents - especially mothers - have to face every day when trying to balance family and work. She was keen to take part in the 40% project, and so kind to show me 'New Dawn’, artist Mary Branson's artwork born to celebrate women’s suffrage for Parliament in 2016. It was a pleasure meeting this bright woman politician.
I had the privilege of spending an hour with Irene Campbell, Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran on what turned out to be the sunniest day of the year. Irene won her seat in the 2024 Labour landslide, continuing the long line of female MP’s in this constituency going back over 20 years.
We met at the Emmaline & Christabel Pankhurst memorial in Westminster primarily because of it’s connection to the Women’s Rights movement; it seemed a fitting tribute to the suffragettes, who were so instrumental in achieving the current record 40% female representation in parliament. But it also has significant links to Irene’s role as chair of the all-party group dedicated to phasing out animal testing. Many of the suffragettes were active in the anti-vivisection movement, which at the time overlapped with women’s rights.
Irene has worked tirelessly towards reform of animal testing policies and what struck me when she spoke about this is how very proud she is to have the opportunity to contribute to positive change. It's to her credit that even on the day that she stood for the first time in Prime Ministers Question Time to discuss it, she still found time beforehand to meet me and participate in the 40% project.
Juliet Campbell Labour MP for the Broxtowe Consituency was elected in July 2024 to represent Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire. She was born in St Anns and raised in Bilborough in Nottingham to parents who migrated to England from Jamaica in the early 1960s and is the youngest of five children. Juliet shared with me that she has a wonderful grown up son and a beautiful granddaughter, whom she adores. She explained she enjoys nature, loves flowers, the rain and shoes!
We met on a blustery Saturday in Wollaton Park, where Juliet fondly remembers spending her carefree summer holidays, exploring the grounds with family and friends. We looked at a number of locations in the Park before settling on this one. I wanted to capture a relaxed portrait and therefore chose to use my long lens (70-200MM) to avoid having the camera too close, as neither of us like being in front of a lens by choice.
Charlotte Cane is the MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire. She has lived in East Cambridgeshire for thirty years. As a child, she moved home often with her Army father. Her mother, a teacher, worked wherever he was posted. She read Ancient History & Archaeology at Birmingham, where she and her husband worked as field archaeologists before retraining with KPMG as a Chartered Accountant in 1990. In 1994 a job with an arts charity brought Charlotte to the village of Reach in Cambridgeshire. As a teenager Charlotte wanted to end apartheid and protect the environment, and is still campaigning for equality and fairness.
I met Charlotte in the village of Cottenham, where she was preparing to hold a constituency surgery. We shot some portraits, but I love this documentary image of Charlotte, made while she worked with village hall staff to prepare the room for constituents to arrive.
I met Wendy in St Monans, in the heart of her East Fife constituency, on a cool grey day in April with spits of rain in the air. Wendy chose to meet at the windmill by the salt pans and the tidal pool, with the Isle of May in the distance behind us.
I was delighted that Wendy wanted to meet at a location that I also have a deep connection with and regularly visit. I was equally delighted that she would let me photograph her with my large format analogue camera that would take time to set up and fiddle around with.
Although we had just met, Wendy was relaxed and open and we had an interesting chat while I set things up, taking four sheets of 5x4 film which we would only know the results of once I developed and printed them in the darkroom.
This photo is the one we chose, which I think reveals Wendy’s open and friendly character as a woman, MP for North East Fife and Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats.
Sarah Champion has served as the Labour Party MP for Rotherham since 2012. She was first elected as Chair of the International Development Select Committee in 2020, and then re-elected to that position soon after the 2024 general election. As an MP she has an extensive background in tackling complex issues; she has worked particularly hard to develop policies to protect children and young people from abuse and sexual exploitation.
I met Sarah on a street corner in a Rotherham neighbourhood during a routine door-knocking session. This was not 'Plan A' - we had initially discussed meeting in a local park for a more conventional shoot. But Sarah had looked at some of my work online and commented "I thought that coming out with us would be more your cup of tea". She was right. I was immediately struck by Sarah's close working relationship with her local team and by her sheer enthusiasm. We covered a lot of ground, mixing doorstep conversations with chat about the local area and with pauses to take a shot wherever the late afternoon light looked good.
I wanted to make an image that would reflect Sarah's energy and commitment to her constituents, as well as recognising that all-important teamwork. This is the one that we chose: a moment in the late afternoon sun, in between doorstep conversations.
I met Ellie Chowns, Green Party MP for North Herefordshire, on a Saturday afternoon following her constituency surgery in Leominster. It was then that I made her portrait capturing her quiet determination, unwavering commitment, and genuine care for the people she represents. As we walked through the market town together, it became clear just how deeply rooted Ellie is in her community. She was constantly stopped by locals with the easy familiarity that speaks of long-standing relationships and earned trust. We spent time with a local dance company performing to raise awareness about the pollution of the River Wye, a cause Ellie is visibly passionate about. Later, we had a powerful, grounded conversation with staff from Echo, a charity and leading service provider in Herefordshire for adults living with disabilities.
What struck me most throughout our time together was Ellie’s authenticity. She is present, engaged and a deeply trusted part of the fabric of this community. In every interaction, she revealed herself as someone guided by integrity, compassion, and a true sense of public service.
Feryal Clark Labour MP for Enfield North. I met up with Feryal for a walk in the heart of Enfield by The New River path and we talked about how she got into politics and what matters to her the most as an MP. Her manner is frank and approachable, her laughter infectious.
Growing up in a family that always took a keen interest in politics and current affairs, she fondly recalled growing up as a young girl from Kurdish-Turkish diaspora in East London surrounded by people from different cultures and different countries. ‘Best Vietnamese restaurants are in Hackney’, she told me with a smile.
Her love for a diverse, multicultural society is clear and she is driven by the desire to get things done. She is focused on what the outcomes of infrastructure projects she is involved in will really mean to people affected by them. One question seems to matter to her more than anything: will it make people’s lives better or not?
It is clear Feryal is passionate about what she does. Moments before she rushes off to her next appointment, she pauses and tells me that she hates people who just kick problems into the long grass, and believes her job is to persist on behalf of her constituents to find solutions to problems, and to never give up.
Lizzi Collinge is the Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale since 2024. The constituency, at Lancashire’s northernmost tip, borders Cumbria and North Yorkshire. From the seaside towns of Morecambe and Heysham to the rural Lune Valley, its towns, villages and coastal communities form a distinctive, diverse landscape. Lizzi’s roots are firmly planted in her Lancashire heritage; she served as a County Councillor 2016–25. At heart, she is a constituency MP, pledging to represent every part of her area, support the local economy, and protect services like the NHS.
She has secured funding for regeneration projects in the west of her patch and will welcome Eden Project North to Morecambe’s beachfront. In Westminster, Lizzi chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, currently championing legal recognition of humanist marriages in England and Wales. A member of Labour Women’s Network and Parliament 50:50, she’s a natural supporter of the 40% Project. From Lizzi’s Promenade office panoramic views sweep across Morecambe Bay towards the Lake District mountains. It sits within the iconic Winter Gardens and Theatre where she chose to be photographed. This wonderfully Victorian building, once the “people’s palace of entertainment” was a fitting setting for this most modern of Parliamentarians with a love of history.
After the shoot, Lizzi treated me to a chippy lunch at Bay Café, aka Blackburn Chippy. From one Lancastrian to another this was a well received kindness! As we chatted Lizzi mentioned her great great uncle Alfred Wainwright. “THE Alfred Wainwright?” I asked, as if there was another!
Victoria Collins is the Liberal Democrat MP for Harpenden & Berkhamsted and was elected to Parliament in 2024. Proud to represent her constituents, Victoria decided that the Grand Union Canal in Berkhamsted would be the ideal location for her photo shoot. We met in the brilliant sunshine of Good Friday morning and took a stroll through the town to the Canal towpath, which is still very much a busy thoroughfare in the heart of this community. So busy, that we had barely walked 100 metres before a member of the public did a 'double-take' and seized the opportunity to chat to their MP. Victoria was in her element, addressing the local and national issues her interlocutor was concerned about. Generous with her time, Victoria was superb to photograph, no rush, no fuss, easy to work with.
This image, set against the historic buildings and bridges of the canal, was Victoria's choice from a shortlist of potentials sent to her office.
When I met Sarah Coombes, Labour MP for West Bromwich, to make her portrait, her candour and presence were immediately evident. She spoke openly about West Bromwich’s pressing challenges: limited access to healthcare, high knife crime, a shortage of youth services, and educational gaps that drive young people to seek opportunities elsewhere. The High Street, vibrant by day, grows quiet in the evenings as concerns about violence and drug-related crime affect the night-time economy.
Yet Sarah balances realism with optimism, highlighting tangible signs of renewal: plans for a redeveloped town centre, a recently inaugurated modern indoor market, a new mental health hospital, and a library already serving as a vital community hub. She observes that the High Street reflects the area’s diversity and culture, and these initiatives point to a more dynamic and resilient future for residents.
Approachable and engaging, Sarah naturally draws constituents to speak openly with her. Having been involved in politics since childhood, she remains deeply committed to improving the local quality of life. Her honesty, transparency, and hands-on approach demonstrate a politician who listens attentively while taking decisive action.
Dr Beccy Cooper is Labour MP for Worthing West.
I’m always slightly giddy at having an excuse to go to the coast - not that I need one, but I’m well over an hour away. There’s a timeless nostalgia to it and reminds me of holidays when I was little, dodging seaweed and delighting at the rare times it felt warm enough to go completely in.
I met Beccy on Worthing pier, and was immediately struck by her warmth and openness. She has a wonderful energy and we connected straight away - so much so, we spent more time talking than taking photos, covering everything from parenting to parliament, and patient care to life purpose.
Beccy is a kind and compassionate presence, and I felt really seen and heard by her in the short time we were together. Whilst travelling home, I realised how important this is, not only for MPs to do, but for all of us to do for others. I found her inspiring. Beccy says she won’t be running for PM, but I rather hope she does.
Beccy said, ‘It was much more than a photo shoot - it was quite surprising actually. I didn’t expect to have such an in-depth conversation and Kat introduced mindfulness to the art of picture taking, challenging me to reflect on why I do this job and what I want to achieve. Not always easy questions, but what a privilege to have a few mins in a busy schedule to think about them. It’s an honour to be involved in the 40% project and I’m really happy that my image will be used to promote women in politics, I think it’s a great privilege.’
Daisy Cooper Liberal Democrat MP for St Albans. I photographed Daisy at the Palace of Westminster as the working day was winding down. The light was soft, the corridors quieter than usual, but she still carried the sharp energy of someone who had spent the day holding power to account. It’s a place she knows well – not just as an MP, but as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and the party’s voice on the Treasury.
Since her election in 2019, Daisy has built a reputation for getting things done – from championing NHS dentistry and local high streets to standing up for pubs, chalk streams, and reliable public transport. She was voted Backbench MP of the Year in 2021, a recognition of her determined, people-focused approach to politics.
As the day came to a close, she stood with quiet confidence – a reminder that real leadership is rooted in action, not noise.
Yvette was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 5 September 2025, having previously served as Home Secretary from July 2024. She is the first woman in British political history to hold both roles. First elected as MP for Pontefract and Castleford in 1997, she served in government from 1999 to 2010 and later chaired the Home Affairs Select Committee before becoming Shadow Home Secretary in 2021.
Arranging this portrait took patience given Yvette’s schedule. On a cold January morning, with snow forecast but not yet fallen, I travelled to Wakefield feeling hopeful the day would align. Yvette chose The Tigers Rugby League Football Club, a place deeply rooted in her constituency. The stadium was mid-refurbishment, yet it retained a grounded, unpretentious charm.
After walking the grounds and assessing the light, I settled on the newly installed seating. When Yvette arrived wearing a black and amber Tigers scarf, it echoed the orange and black seats spelling “Tigers” behind her. We spoke about years of family matches there, watching games while keeping an eye on young children.
We spent just twenty minutes photographing her overlooking the pitch. Her warmth and genuine affection for the club revealed a strong connection to the local community. Afterwards, I returned via the old mill that houses her constituency office, pausing for lunch in its tearoom — a quiet glimpse into the everyday lives she represents.
The Labour MP for Ealing Southall since 2024, Deirdre Costigan now serves as a Government Assistant Whip. She arrived at our session in Southall on a cold and wet winter’s morning smiling, undeterred by the weather.
Despite the rain, she chose several locations for her portraits, walking from Southall Manor House, built in the 1500s that sits at the heart of her constituency, to the Broadway and past Southall Station, where she noted with pride the station name displayed also in Punjabi.
Previously the national Disability Equality Officer for the UNISON trade union, throughout the walk, she spoke openly about her concerns for the community she serves, with affordable and safe housing foremost among them. We discussed Southall’s long history of anti-racism and standing against the far-right, reflecting on the murders of Blair Peach and Gurdip Singh Chaggar and their memorial plaques at Southall’s Town Hall.
When I asked her about the barriers that women in politics face today, she pointed out how many more barriers block the way for women of colour and those who face other forms of discrimination in addition to misogyny.
Claire Coutinho is the Conservative MP for East Surrey - Member of Parliament since 2019. She is Shadow Secretary of Energy Security and Net Zero in the shadow cabinet. Not only does Claire manage this important portfolio, but she also manages to carry the crucial role of mum to her adorable little boy.
We met in Westminster hall with a grey and overcast day outside not giving us much to work with. Westminster Hall was extremely dark on the day so we did struggle for light. Claire was very supportive and a good sport as we tried to find the best and brightest spots together. In between shots we were talking about life, children, parents, worries and beliefs. She is such a naturally open soul and I left our brief time together feeling I had known her for ages. It isn’t so often one comes across people who speak so openly about themselves, especially in public life.
I hope I have captured her well, as she is a wonderful representation of what the 40% project is aiming to highlight. Strong independent women who are as in touch with themselves as they are with their constituents. Claire is a symbol of modern Britain and to have captured her inside one of the great monuments of our history tells the story of how far we have come as a nation and how much more there is to accomplish.
This is the power of the 40%. It was a real pleasure for me to meet her in person and try to give everyone a glimpse of who Claire is.
Pam Cox, Labour MP for Colchester. Pam Cox was elected at the last election and is Colchester’s first woman MP and the city’s first Labour MP since the WWII.
We met at Hilly Fields to catch the evening light. Overlooking Colchester, ‘Britain’s first city’, it’s a haven for nature and walkers and has been the site of important historical events for thousands of years.
As a historian, a sociologist, a criminologist and now a politician, it felt like a good spot to take her portrait. Never has it felt more important to have people elected that have integrity, are listeners and doers, thoughtful, intelligent, hardworking and kind - Pam is all of these.
Jen Craft’s political presence is inseparable from her openness. In a landscape where vulnerability is often mistaken for weakness, she has spoken publicly about her experiences with depression and disability - not as confessions, but as assertions of legitimacy. Her voice expands the narrow idea of who leadership belongs to, insisting that political authority does not require the erasure of pain, difference, or mental struggle.
For many women, particularly those living with invisible illnesses or disabilities, representation has historically come with conditions: be exceptional, be silent, be resilient without asking for care. Craft disrupts that narrative. By naming her experiences openly, she reframes mental health and disability not as private burdens but as political realities - ones that shape access, participation, and survival.
Photographing her felt especially resonant within the context of this project. At 40% representation, women in Parliament are no longer anomalies - but women like Craft remind us that diversity within that number still matters profoundly. Her visibility challenges the idea that strength must look a certain way, or that public life is only for those whose bodies and minds conform to an unspoken norm.
Her work, and her willingness to speak from within lived experience, creates space for others - constituents, colleagues, and future leaders - to imagine themselves as worthy of power without first needing to be “fixed.” In doing so, she contributes not only to legislative change, but to cultural change: expanding the emotional and bodily vocabulary of politics itself. Jen Craft is Labour MP for Thurrock
Mary Creagh CBE Labour MP for Coventry East.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Nature).
Marys work throughout her political career aligns with the direction my own work started to take in 2019.
2018: Mary was the Chair of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee which looked at the sustainability of the fashion industry, producing the Fixing Fashion Report.
She promoted ethical practices and environmental responsibility within the fashion industry, advocating for changes to improve workers welfare and to reduce the environmental impact of clothing consumption.
Urging industry and the government to adopt policies that promote sustainable practices like repair, reuse and recycling clothing and to end the era of ‘throwaway fashion’.
She is a woman ahead of the curve and it was brilliant to meet and photograph her.
Today some of her responsibilities cover the circular economy, domestic biodiversity, green finance, tree planting and forestry.
We met for the shoot at her office in Coventry which (in alignment with her values,) was furnished completely with preloved furniture. It all still looked new.
Mary was very generous with her time. We shot this image in her office but also went out and shot by the side of the canal and fields around her constituency.
We picked berries and fruit from the hedgerows. She had a packet of seeds with her and even did some guerilla planting in some of the raised beds by the canal.
I chose this image for its strength and timelessness, qualities she carries throughout her work.
Stella Creasy, Labour and Cooperative MP for Walthamstow. Meeting Stella Creasy in her constituency was both exciting and humbling. As the long-serving MP for Walthamstow, with 15 years in Parliament, she has been at the forefront of campaigns that deeply resonate with me—championing social justice, equality, and opportunity. He current fight to legalise abortion in England and Wales is just one important example. Stella is a tireless advocate who refuses to stay silent in the face of injustice, and her courage has inspired not only me, but countless others.
Her unwavering commitment comes at a cost. For speaking out, she has endured threats to her safety—an all-too-common experience for women in politics, and one that weighs even more heavily on her now as a mother to young children. Stella spoke candidly about the emotional toll of this abuse, and the structural challenges that continue to push women out of political life.
Our conversation was a powerful reminder that while we should celebrate the milestone of 40% female representation in Parliament, we must also stay vigilant. The women leading the fight for a better country, like Stella, do so every day—often at great personal cost.
I chose to photograph Stella on a street in her constituency, in front of a vibrant mural, to reflect both her connection to the community and her grounded, approachable presence. Her casual stance, sunglasses, and unpretentious style convey ease, but her calm confidence and no-nonsense energy are unmistakable.
Pat Cullen is the Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Pat Cullen’s route into politics was shaped by a long career in care and advocacy. She began as a community nurse during the Troubles, later trained and worked as a registered psychotherapist. She went on to join the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), eventually becoming acting and interim General Secretary and Chief Executive of the UK-wide RCN.
Her background in nursing remains at the heart of how she approaches public life by bringing a deep attentiveness to others and a natural sense of empathy. This is reflected in the way she carries out her role as an MP. Her professional life suggests someone who has spent years listening, supporting and responding to others, and that experience seems to continue to shape her public voice.
Meeting Pat on a sunny day in Clogher, in the beautiful grounds of St Macartan’s Cathedral, added to the warmth of the encounter. She was very gracious with her time and willing to move around the site, which gave the portrait session a relaxed and collaborative feel. The image aims to reflect both her dignity and the compassion that clearly informs her approach to politics and public life.
www.storiesandlightphotography.com / @storiesandlightphotography
Judith Cummins, Labour MP for Bradford South and Deputy Speaker. It was a real privilege to photograph Judith Cummins MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, for the RPS Women in Photography 40% Project. Judith had asked to be photographed in the iconic Speaker’s Chair, wearing the traditional robes — and what a striking and symbolic image that made.
We met early one morning before the day’s business in Parliament began. I was given time to set up in the chamber, which felt incredibly special — standing there with my camera where so much history has happened. Judith arrived smiling and full of warmth, and putting me immediately at ease.
As we prepared for the shoot, we spoke about how amazing it is that 40% of MPs are now women, and how proud she is to be serving as a Deputy Speaker. Her pride in her role was clear, and her enthusiasm for the 40% Project was heartening. She also spoke with real passion about her work for Bradford South and how hard she continues to fight for her constituents — a reminder that behind the formality of Westminster, she remains deeply grounded in the people she represents.
I wanted the portrait to reflect both her dignity in office and her pride in being a woman in such a position of influence. Seated in the Speaker’s Chair in full robes, Judith looked calm, strong, and completely at home — a powerful image of representation and progress.
It’s a portrait I feel honoured to have taken — and one I hope speaks to just how far we’ve come.
Janet Daby is the Labour MP for Lewisham East since 2018. She served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families from July 2024 until September 2025.
Janet was great about choosing the location. Her husband is a photographer, so she knew what we needed for our setting. The light and atmosphere deep inside the corridors of Westminster were fantastic. Janet was elegantly dressed and incredibly relaxed and she knows how to pose, making it so much easier for the photographer.
It really was a great pleasure for me to photograph her. It was a delight to meet Janet and she is a wonderful part of the 40% project. I really hope her spirit shines through in this photograph.
We met on a Spring day at the Ship Inn in Lathom, the room filled with dappled sunlight. Ashley Dalton, MP for West Lancashire, joined the 40% Project as part of a growing portrait of women in Parliament—each bringing their own voice, their own way of leading. She admires the diversity we are representing. She spoke with humour and warmth - That her role is not to enter a room and speak, but to listen. To make space for others, rather than fill it. And that vulnerability—so often mistaken for weakness— is, in truth, a form of courage. A different kind of strength.
Emily Darlington, Labour MP for Milton Keynes Central. I photographed Emily in the soft evening light in Campbell Park, right in the heart of Milton Keynes — Britain’s most successful new city. It’s a park rich in stories, home to remarkable artworks like the Light Pyramid and the iconic Milton Keynes Rose, reflecting both our past, our future, and our pioneering spirit. Emily believes in the power of community, in the way spaces like this bring people together, so it felt fitting to make her portrait here.
Emily was elected as Labour MP for Milton Keynes Central in 2024, after boundary changes made it a key battleground seat — a win that helped Labour secure its overall majority. A member of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee; Emily is passionate about science and advocates for leveraging local expertise and resources to drive innovation in life sciences and healthcare. She led initiatives to make Milton Keynes a White Ribbon City and a dementia-friendly city. She also spearheaded efforts to tackle homelessness after the city was labelled “tent city” in 2018, insisting that “compassion, not cruelty, is the answer to rough sleeping — we have the proof in Milton Keynes.” Emily stands not just as a politician but as a person who wants the best for our city — standing up for those who are overlooked and working for a fairer future for all.
I wanted to make a portrait that reflects her values, her mission, and her ability to bring people together, rising above divisions and obstacles. I photographed on film with my Hasselblad 500 C/M — a quiet, deliberate process that allowed the moment to unfold naturally. As I pressed the shutter, a seagull flew across the sky — a perfect symbol of freedom, hope, and a future filled with possibilities.
Ann Davies, Plaid Cymru MP for Caerfyrddin, has built her career on hard work, community commitment, and lifelong learning. From her roots on a Carmarthenshire farm and a background in music teaching, she pursued higher education later in life at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, where she studied Early Years Education alongside her daughter. This experience gave her the confidence and skills to co-found a Welsh-language nursery and later step into public service, culminating in her election to Parliament, where she now represents her community with the same dedication and resilience.
Ann Davies is a strong supporter of green energy, but she is firmly opposed to the proposed pylons in the Towy Valley. Recognising the valley as an area of outstanding natural beauty and heritage, she is committed to protecting it for future generations. While she backs renewable energy projects, she stresses that installations must not cause irreversible local damage or undermine the landscape, communities, and economy of this cherished area.
Ann and I discussed the ideas and decided that Paxton Tower, with the Towy Valley in the background, was the perfect spot. Being there with “No Pylons” sign tells a strong story, highlighting the part of the valley that could be affected and showing her commitment to protecting the landscape while supporting green energy responsibly.
Mims Davies is the Conservative MP for East Grinstead, Uckfield & the villages.
Rain isn’t often the photographers friend, but if the weather had been good on this day, we’d have missed the awe-inspiring experience of being in a building of great beauty and antiquity.
Mims and I met in Sackville College, the stunning 400+ year-old Jacobean Almshouse in East Grinstead. Before she arrived, I was given a quick tour of the ground floor rooms, courtesy of Rosalind Crowther, the first female warden since the college was built in 1609. We took in the breathtaking chapel, dining room, common room and study - the latter felt like the perfect place to do the shoot.
I found Mims warm, compassionate, dynamic and really lovely to be around. She’s interested, interesting and clearly deeply fascinated with the history of her constituency. Her energy and excitement for Sackville College, the towns and villages in which she works, and the 40% Project, was really infectious and has stayed with me since.
Mims said, ‘I feel so honoured to be a part of the 40% Project. Your shots are brilliant and you made me feel so relaxed and positive about why we are doing this. The background in Sackville College is beautiful and it was exciting to have been photographed at the table where John Mason Neale wrote Good King Wenceslas over 170 years ago! I felt really connected to my community and the history of East Grinstead. Thank you for giving up your time and for everyone involved to make this project come alive - it's lovely to have such talented women like you to work with us.’
Alex Davies-Jones an MP for the Labour Party in Pontypridd. Alex was working at Welsh Water and on maternity leave with her eight-month-old son when the 2019 general election was announced. When her predecessor confirmed he would not be standing, she began receiving late-night phone calls asking whether she would consider replacing him. After speaking with her mum and deciding she had nothing to lose, she chose to put herself forward. Just a few days later, she was announced as the candidate.
Before becoming an MP, Alex served as a community councillor and loved representing the area she calls home. The daughter of a miner, she has lived in the constituency all her life and feels a deep connection to the community, with a strong understanding of the specific challenges facing people in the valleys.
Balancing motherhood with life as an MP and Minister, she says, means spinning many plates and accepting that one will always drop. She is grateful that her son has never known any different and that she has an amazing support network at home.
As Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, she is motivated by the knowledge that her work helps build a safer and fairer world for him. While the brief is often harrowing, Alex considers it a privilege to meet survivors and families, to hear their stories, and to help them on their journey to justice.
The Hon. Marsha de Cordova MP has served as the Labour Member of Parliament for Battersea since 2017. In Parliament, Marsha advocates for a range of issues including disability rights, securing better relations with the European Union, housing, the cost of living, respect for international human rights and opportunities for young people. Powered by her personal experience with sight loss, Marsha seeks to represent some of the most vulnerable in our society, becoming a voice for the voiceless. Marsha was born in Bristol with the eye condition nystagmus, which means she is registered blind. She went onto study Law and European Policy at London South Bank University before building a formidable career in the voluntary sector in London. Marsha worked for the eye health charity Thomas Pocklington Trust and founded her own charity, South East London Vision. Her journey into politics began at Lambeth Council where she served as a Councillor from 2014-2018. In Parliament, she has held numerous roles including Shadow Minister for Disabled People (2017–2020) and Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities (2020–2021). In 2024 Marsha was appointed by the King as the Second Church Estates Commissioner, representing the Church of England in Parliament. She was also appointed as the Co-Chair of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. Marsha has called South West London home since her time at university and is deeply grateful for her community here. For Marsha, making Battersea the best place to live, work and visit is not just a political mission but also a personal one.
Kate Dearden has been the Labour MP for Halifax since 2024 and is also a Government Assistant Whip. She previously worked for the Community Trade Union. Kate was born in Bingley and is a very strong, proud Yorkshire woman from a hard working family and lives in the very heart of her constituency in Halifax. Driven by her roots and strong family values – hard work, keeping promises and standing up for what she believe in, Kate does everything she can to help others.
I spent a wonderful day taking photos and joining Kate on various events throughout a busy Friday in May 2025. This portrait was made high on a hill with the backdrop of the town she loves and serves, Halifax.
Outside of work Kate enjoys spending time with her family and weekend walks in the Yorkshire Dales to recharge the batteries.
I met Carla Denyer on an overcast afternoon in Bristol, at the Arnolfini café. She was exactly as I’d hoped—open, warm, and fully present despite a busy diary—arriving in a beautiful pre-loved suit that felt spot on for her: smart, sustainable, quietly confident.
We started indoors, making the most of the soft light, then crossed the Harbourside bridge to M Shed—once a 1950s transit shed, now a museum—the backdrop nodding to Bristol’s habit of renewing itself. Carla is an engineer-turned-MP who helped bring about the first Climate Emergency declaration by a European town or city, and she won Bristol Central with a record Green Party vote share.
After we finished by the cargo cranes, she moved straight to the next item in her diary: recording a short video inviting more people to step into politics and represent the Green Party in their own communities. With louder division and everyday pressures—from climate change to the cost of living—that invitation felt timely.
Walking back along the harbour, I was reminded that a portrait can be more than a likeness; it can carry a bit of hope.
Dame Caroline Dinenage is the Conservative MP for Gosport.
Dawn is my absolute favourite time of day to photograph - there’s something very special about the emergence of a new day and the opportunity it offers for hope and fresh beginnings. I usually find myself chasing the rising of the sun, watching it start to appear, not wanting to miss a moment.
Caroline and I met on Gosport Millennium Pier, close to her constituency home. It was a fairly breezy morning (which always adds a wonderful untamed wildness to portraiture) and we captured a lovely array of images, this being Caroline’s favourite.
I left the shoot feeling really relaxed - Caroline has a very calming presence, which I'd never expect from an MP as I assume they have ridiculously hectic schedules. Maybe it’s something to do with the ability to juggle multiple things at once… and perhaps this is one of the reasons we’re witnessing an historic number of women in parliament.
Caroline said, ’I loved the shoot. It was worth getting up early in the morning for, and I really liked the meditation before we started, it made me feel much less tense and artificial - more grounded. The 40% Project is a lovely way for us to have the opportunity to be photographed in our communities. My Gosport constituency defines me as an MP and I care deeply about it.’
Anna Dixon is a British Labour Party politician who has been Member of Parliament for Shipley, West Yorkshire since 2024. She read social and political science at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and then moved onto the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the London School of Economics where she was awarded a PhD in social policy in 2007.
Anna is a dedicated and active feminist and spoke about ‘Courage calls to courage everywhere’, the quote by the British suffragist Millicent Fawcett in her maiden speech. Anna is also Chair of Christians on the Left.
I spent a wonderful hour or so with Anna in London, photographing her in a few of her favourite, quieter spaces, close to Parliament. Anna’s faith is extremely important to her, and this gentle portrait captures Anna taking a moment of thoughtful reflection in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, her peaceful haven.
Outside of Anna’s parliamentary work she enjoys hill walking in the Yorkshire Moors and Dales as well as gardening, knitting and baking.
Samantha Dixon MBE MP is the Member of Parliament for Chester North and Neston. She was first elected to Parliament in December 2022, holding the City of Chester seat for Labour in a by-election, and was elected for the new Chester North and Neston constituency at the 2024 General Election.
Samantha grew up in rural Cheshire and continues to live in Chester with her family. She is a proud Cestrian and a passionate advocate for the city. For 12 years, Samantha served as a local authority councillor, representing residents in Chester city centre. She was the first female leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, holding the post from 2015 to 2019. During this time, Samantha was instrumental in delivering Storyhouse, establishing the first council-led Poverty Truth Commission in the country, and helping to bring forward the first phase of the Northgate Development.
Samantha’s public service was recognised in 2022, when she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE, for political service. Samantha chose to have her portrait taken at Storyhouse — more than just a cultural landmark, it is one of those places that feels as though it was made for the whole community, not only for performances or reading. For Samantha, it is a place where Chester’s past and present come together, and it holds a special place in her heart. As a child, she came here when it was the Odeon, watching films on the big screen long before its transformation into the award-winning Storyhouse we know today. Returning now, she finds the same magic: the warm hum of people gathering, stories being shared, and creativity thriving in every corner.
Dame Anneliese Dodds MP is the Labour Member of Parliament for Oxford East. She was elected to the European Parliament in 2014 and then to the House of Commons in 2017. Following the 2024 General Election, she served as Minister for Development and Minister for Women and Equalities from 8 July 2024 until 28 February 2025.
The whole 40% project is a collaborative process between the MP and the photographer. Anneliese had some ideas, I had visited Oxford and got some ideas of my own, we then had a great time trying them out. Anneliese was the first MP that I photographed, and I was a little apprehensive but I found a charming lady who joined in the spirit of the shoot and the time flew by. It was obvious that she is very much part of her constituency and very well liked. I really enjoyed my time with her.
Helena Dollimore, the Labour and Co-operative MP for Hastings and Rye since the 2024 General Election.
It was a pleasure to meet and photograph Helena on a picturesque April day. Despite the weather problems earlier in the year we held out for Hastings’ beach and promenade as the perfect backdrop for our portrait.
Helena interests focus on social mobility and water pollution. Born and raised in East Sussex, she transitioned from a career in international development with Save the Children and a role as a Director at Unilever to politics. Her work with Save the Children took her to refugee camps and war zones, including Bangladesh and Yemen, where she contributed to protecting vulnerable children globally. In her political career, Helena has served on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee and currently acts as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. She holds a degree in History and Politics from St Hilda’s College, Oxford University.
During the Covid pandemic, Helena volunteered as a vaccinator in Hastings, aiding in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
http://www.slrphotography.co.uk / @sarahlouiseramsay_photography
Rosie Duffield has represented Canterbury since 2017, sitting first as a Labour MP, and currently as an independent. From the moment I met Rosie, she was warm, welcoming, funny and friendly. She holds strong opinions that not everyone will agree with and like all MPs, has had her professional and private life scrutinised in granular detail by the press. However, I was struck by her passion for doing right by her constituents, her energy and enthusiasm, and her willingness to stick to her guiding principles. We chatted non-stop for the hour I spent with her, and I honestly could have continued the conversation all afternoon.
I met Rosie at Friends Meeting House in the heart of her constituency. It’s an oasis of calm and provided a wealth of locations for photos, from the room at the front with beautiful, muted light coming through the windows, to the shade of the trees in the garden that shielded us from the heat of the day. We’re both massive animal lovers, so imagine our cries of delight when a little ginger kitten decided to photobomb the shoot!
Liberal Democrats Glastonbury and Somerton
I met Sarah at Ham Hill in her Somerset constituency of Glastonbury and Somerton. Sarah had just had a tour of the new visitor centre that is being built at Ham Hill. When I arrived Sarah was back at the rangers station. The kettle was on, Sarah’s gorgeous dogs were with her and she was discussing the various countryside and wildlife schemes that are taking place across the across the county. Sarah’s passion for animals, wildlife and the Somerset countryside were immediately obvious and Sarah told me that her family has a long history of farming in Somerset.
We walked along the ham stone paths towards the war monument to our intended location where we were greeted by the sweeping views over Somerset, as well as a pretty wild and bitingly cold wind! The conditions didn’t put us off and we persevered, trying out various locations and trying to time the shots for the brief moments when the wind dropped. Eventually the clouds moved away and our patience was rewarded with calmer conditions.
Thinking we’d done all we could we headed back to the car park, only to find the most beautiful golden hour light waiting for us on the other side of the hill and of course we couldn’t resist getting another couple of portraits in!
I was incredibly grateful to Sarah for the generosity she showed with her time on this shoot and that really is a testament to her commitment to being part of this project.
