Celebrating Women MPs in Parliament

Photographed by Katrina Campbell

Amanda Hack has been the Labour MP for North West Leicestershire since 2024. Prior to that she worked for 20 years for a housing association, and was appointed as Councillor to Leicestershire County Council in 2017.

The Snibston Colliery Park was a perfect location for the photoshoot. Located in the centre of Coalville, its presence celebrates the area’s rich mining history that Amanda and her constituents are so proud of.  We reflected on the importance of this project to document the number of women MPs in parliament and to celebrate the achievements of the last 100 years. Even though women were allowed to vote in 1918, this privilege was initially only extended to those over 30, and the wealthy. We would both have been excluded!

As we walked around the old colliery buildings, Amanda greeted everyone she met. Her personality shone through as someone capable of taking on a challenge, happy to represent everyone regardless of their political leaning, and doing so with charm. She talked with enthusiasm about her work, in particular about improving transport links, by reopening the railway line, as well as championing her local towns of Ashby de la Zouch and Coalville in their bids to be named UK town of culture. 

This photograph includes the old industrial buildings which convey a sense of history, whilst looking optimistically towards the future, with Amanda’s bright pink jacket bringing a flash of femininity and modernity.

www.katrinacampbell.net 

Photographed by Nicola Tree

Louise Haigh has been the Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley since 2015. She made history as the youngest woman ever appointed to the Cabinet, serving as Transport Secretary from July to November 2025. I’ve photographed Louise several times before for Getty Images, always in a photojournalistic capacity while she was at work. So this shoot was a welcome change — a chance to collaborate in the studio and take a more creative approach. When she arrived, the first thing she said was, “I’m back, and I have a new campaign.” That campaign is ‘Stop Employers Covering Up Abuse’, which seeks to ban the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that prevent employees from speaking out about harassment or discrimination in the workplace. You can find the petition here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-employers-covering-up-abuse-1

We spent about an hour shooting. I had prepared a couple of steel backdrops — one rusted, the other a dark gunmetal. We also experimented with a cherry-red backdrop and used colour gels on the lights for effect.

Louise is known for her striking hair, and before arriving she’d asked the hairdresser in Parliament for a 70s-inspired, big-hair look. Under a cyan gel, her hair turned a deep red that popped beautifully against the bright cherry background.

www.nicolatree.com

Photographed by Natalie Persoglio ARPS

Sarah Hall has served as the Labour and Co-operative MP for Warrington South since July 2024, winning with a strong majority of over 11,000 votes. Before entering Parliament, she spent eight years on Warrington Borough Council, including a key role as cabinet member for children’s services. Her work in local government reflected a longstanding dedication to community wellbeing and public services.

In Westminster, Sarah sits on the influential Public Accounts Committee, reinforcing her focus on transparency and effective use of public money. She is also active in all-party parliamentary groups on autism and ADHD, drawing on her own experience of being diagnosed with ADHD in 2021. She’s since become a vocal advocate for neurodivergent voices in politics, aiming to make Westminster more inclusive and representative. On the ground in Warrington, Sarah has prioritised improving local healthcare. She used her first Prime Minister’s Questions appearance to press for new urgent treatment and outpatient facilities in the town, addressing long-standing pressure on emergency services.

More recently, she backed a community-led flood recovery initiative, showing her responsiveness to local challenges. Beyond politics, Sarah is rooted in the community she represents. She lives with her husband, a frontline emergency worker, and their children in Warrington.

instagram.com/natpersogliophotos

Photographed by Gabrielle Guy

Paulette Hamilton is Labour MP for Erdington and is a woman of the people. With her warm smile, genuine interest, and infectious energy, she embodies what it means to truly care for people.

While we had our portrait session on Erdington High Street, not only were constituents calling out to Paulette by name, but she could also recall exactly where and when she had met them. Some of these connections spanned over 20 years. Paulette is rooted and grounded in her community and uses various parts of Erdington for her grocery shopping and personal care appointments. Paulette has fantastic clarity on how political, economic, and community power can be harnessed to positively change the lives of UK citizens for the better. She is also an excellent marketer and could have thrived in a sales career if she were not a politician.

Paulette explained the purpose and intent of the 40% Project so wonderfully that it impressed even the most stubborn of sceptics. I had the privilege of being introduced to Paulette’s supportive team in her head office and on Erdington High Street. It truly takes a village — and dedication — to get the results that they do.

I’d like to say a special thank you to Laura Horton for the behind-the-scenes footage and her assistance in making this shoot happen. Thank you to the African and Caribbean Hut for providing shoot props and the brief use of their premises.

www.gabrielle-guy.com / @thegabrielleguy

Photographed by Allyson Klein

Claire Hanna, SDLP MP for Belfast South and Mid Down. I met Claire Hanna in Belfast at Ormeau Park on the first sunny day we'd seen in a while. Though it was still quite chilly, the sun and the fresh air made our visit extra special. It was so lovely to see her ride up to meet me, something I hadn't expected. Since she lives and works nearby Claire said it made more sense to travel locally that way.

Claire is a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and was the first person to speak Irish during the Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on 17 March 2025. She said, "Lá Fhéile Pádraig agus Seachtain na Gaeilge" which translates to "Happy St. Patrick's Day everybody and Happy Irish Language Week as well."

In addition to making history, Claire invited Keir Starmer to come to Belfast for the Fleadh Cheoil, the largest gathering of Irish traditional musicians in the world. 

storiesandlightphotography.com / @storiesandlightphotography

Photographed by Sarah Hogan

Portrait of Monica Harding MP, Liberal Democrat for Esher and Walton, taken for the RPS 40% Project. Monica is the first woman ever to represent the constituency, and the first non-Conservative MP for the seat in over a century

Living locally in Thames Ditton and a mother of four, Monica arrived for our session in a bright green dress. The colour choice sparked a conversation about the suffragettes and how the colour green for them symbolised hope. Despite my wish for a sunny day, the weather was against us: wet and windy as we walked along the River Thames searching for a suitable location. Monica, however, was unfazed, engaging warmly with me and with passersby. She was generous with her time, and our conversation touched on her historic win and issues close to both of our hearts. We discussed river pollution and overstaying boats along the Thames.

Despite the grey skies over the Thames that day, Monica’s energy and commitment shone through. I feel proud that my portrait of Monica will be added to the growing chorus of voices captured in the 40% Project—a celebration of women reshaping the political landscape.

Photographed by Abbie Jennings

Emma Hardy is the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice. I met Emma on Boulevard in Hull on a sunny afternoon in September. A fitting spot within her constituency, framed by the fountain and a Hull-based mural.

Before entering Parliament, Emma worked as a primary school teacher at the school I attended as a child. Although our paths didn’t cross back then, we enjoyed reminiscing about my old teachers. It was a real joy to photograph Emma.

www.abbiejennings.co.uk / @abbiejennings.co.uk

Photographed by Sarah Louise Ramsay

Born and raised in Swansea, Carolyn has long been passionate about community work and politics, becoming MP for Neath and Swansea East in 2024. I felt a proud connection with her, inspired by her advocacy for women’s empowerment and by the fact that my mother-in-law, Eirwen, grew up in a small mining town within her constituency.

As a frequent speaker in Parliament, Carolyn suggested Westminster as the setting for our shoot, and the Jubilee Room proved both fitting and dramatic. A strong advocate for weight-loss injections, she has lost over eight stone and feels healthier and happier than she has in years. Her bright, colourful outfit perfectly reflected her cheery and approachable nature. Carolyn is a fighter—someone who never gives up.

Once a dinner lady and barmaid, she earned a degree in Social Policy from Swansea University before working with charities supporting young people and families. Her campaign for funding children’s funerals is deeply personal, inspired by the loss of her son Martin, who died in a road accident aged eight in 1989. Elected MP in 2015 and re-elected in 2017 and 2019, Carolyn became the first Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour in 2018. Now a backbencher, she was appointed Trade Envoy to New Zealand in 2025.

She continues to campaign tirelessly for stronger NHS support for women, particularly those experiencing menopause symptoms, saying: “51% of the population are women; we need to ensure they are healthy, happy, and respected—especially in the workplace."

www.slrphotography.co.uk / @sarahlouiseramsay_photography

Photographed by Emma Swain

Dame Rebecca Harris has represented Castle Point since 2010 and currently serves as Chief Whip of the Conservative Party. In 2024, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her political and public service. Rebecca’s connection to Castle Point began long before her political career.

She first visited Canvey Island, where our photoshoot took place, in the early days of her career working for a publishing company. Her warmth and humour made the experience a pleasure and we were fortunate to enjoy bright weather that perfectly matched Rebecca’s down-to-earth nature. Photographing Rebecca by the sea also felt especially fitting: a moment that captured steadfast local pride, resilience, and quiet strength - qualities that have long defined both her career and her enduring connection to the Castle Point community.

After the shoot, it was a delight to sit down with Rebecca at the Labworth Café, a much-loved local landmark overlooking the estuary. Designed and built in the early 1930s by engineer Ove Arup, the café was inspired by the bridge of the RMS Queen Mary, giving it its distinctive, ship-like Art Deco style. Now a Grade II listed building, it remains an iconic feature of Canvey Island’s seafront. Over coffee, Rebecca spoke fondly of her early working life and her deep affection for the local community. Away from Parliament, she enjoys reading (perhaps a nod to her roots in the print industry) and is a devoted animal lover.

emmaswain.co.uk / @swains.shots

Photographed by Emma Boittiaux

Helen Hayes Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, was elected in 2015 and elected chair of the House of Commons Education Select Committee in 2024. I met with Helen on an early morning in Dulwich Park for a quick photoshoot before she had to leave for parliament.

She shared with me how she had already participated in a similar initiative back in 2017 when at the time the election got a record of 32% of women in parliament. A book of portraits was made for the occasion and she told me how it was still on her desk and very dear to her heart. How being now part of 40% Project 8 years later gives a glimpse of hope even in these complicated times.

@emmaboittiaux / www.emmaboittiaux.com

Photographed by Jo Shepherd ARPS

Claire Hazelgrove is the Labour MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, elected in July 2024.

Claire’s interest in politics started through her family’s background in public service. She remembers attending a Fairtrade event with her grandad, a vicar, while at school in 2005. This led to her taking the overnight coach to Edinburgh to join the big Make Poverty History march. Seeing the then Labour Government act, Claire knew politics was a way to help others.   

Claire asked to meet at Stoke Gifford’s village green. She arrives straight from her MP advice surgery. The village green is a place of significance to her; it’s where she and volunteers launched her election campaign. Later in the campaign Keir Starmer visited the local pub.    

Her stamina, passion and commitment is much in evidence, undimmed, despite being a late Friday afternoon. The following day she is scheduled to have a “Coffee With Claire” drop-in event, and endeavours to knock on doors as often as possible, listening to her constituents. As an MP she wants to be considered an approachable, ordinary person.   

We walk round the green, finishing at The Coffee Shop in St Michael’s Centre. We talk about women’s roles and opportunities. Claire hopes that The 40% Project will help inspire the next generation of women MPs by seeing themselves better represented. As we talk, from time to time, I pick up my camera and take a few pictures.  

I notice the teabag in her mug bears the Fairtrade logo. How appropriate. 

joshepherdphotography.myportfolio.com/

Photographed by Eleanor Church

Meg Hillier has been the MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch since 2005, an amazing 21 years representing a community diverse in many ways. She is also the chair of the Liaison and Treasury Select Committees. Meg has, amongst other things, been a fervent campaigner for the compensation of the Windrush generation and recently led a campaign that resulted in the abolition of the two-child benefit cap – the sharpest and fastest drop in child poverty for a generation.

She is a long-standing advocate for her constituents in Hackney, often highlighting the intersection of high local poverty rates with national policy failures. In person, she radiates kindness, passion, great energy and has a glorious smile.

www.larkrisepictures.com  / @larkrisepictures

Photographed by Jayne Odell FRPS

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath was born in Hanover, Germany and now lives in Bath with her husband William. She has four children. Wera has been the Member of Parliament for Bath since the 2017 general election, representing the constituency for the Liberal Democrats. During this time Wera’s achievements as Bath's MP include helping more than 15,000 constituents with casework, making up-skirting a criminal offence in England, Climate action policy locally and nationally to get Britain equitably to net-zero carbon by 2045, fighting for school funding, a successful campaign to re-establish a public facing police station, fighting for better mental health services and strengthening protections for domestic abuse survivors. I photographed Wera at her constituency office in Bath. My intention with this piece was to portray this very strong, hard working and driven female MP with a sense of elegance and authority. Dynamically composed with Wera sitting mid-frame in the photograph and surrounded by traditional Bath stonework and beneath the Clematis she loves, gave my portrait a sense of serenity and place, the juxtaposition of what is an extremely busy political life.

jayneodell.com

Photographed by Louise Knaresborough LRPS

Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Washington and Gateshead South. I caught up with Sharon at one of the North East’s iconic locations, the Angel of the North. It had recently become part of her constituency following boundary changes, and we both thought that this would be an excellent back drop to the portrait. With the Angel being such a huge structure at 75 Meters, I had to think carefully about my composition and angles so that the angel did not dominate the portrait.

Sharon was warm, welcoming, very approachable and her passion and commitment to the area where she was born and bred was clearly evident. Sharon has been a busy and active a member of Parliament for the area continually since 2005 and in that time has taken on a variety of roles such as Assistant Government Whip and Chair of the Finance Committee. We talked about a lot of things not least that she is a supporter of equal representation in Parliament through the Women Count movement. The aim of this is to ensure equal representation is reached by 2028, and to show Support for this goal MPs can purchase a specially made brooch that indicates their number, Sharon’s number is 289, and currently at time of writing there have only been 693 women MPs. Sharon wore her brooch with pride for the photograph.

LVKstudios.com/@lvkstudiosphotography

Photographed by Sarah Haskell ARPS

Rachel Hopkins, Labour MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire. Rachel is a proud Lutonian, elected to represent her hometown in 2019. She was especially keen for her photo shoot to showcase Luton at its best.

We took a leisurely stroll around Wardown Park, on a glorious late spring morning. The park is full of local significance, from the brickwork in garden walls, to the museum and memorial benches. Moreover, full of significance for Rachel too, from childhood memories through to present day festivals and events. As we walked around the lake, stopping to chat to people she knew, she was in her element, cheery, confident and proud to represent this community.

www.heraphotography.co.uk

Photographed by Gillian Duffy LRPS

Alison Hume, Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby was elected to parliament for the first time in 2024, Alison Hume welcomed me warmly, was generous with her time, and was a relaxed, experienced, and creative model.

Alison learned the craft of campaigning when she was fighting for the rights of her disabled adult son; indeed, he was the one to suggest that she would make a great MP.  

Alison described to me the huge honour, privilege and enormous responsibility which comes with representing her constituents.  She emphasised the importance of ensuring fairness, equality, and truth in her role as an MP.

Alison was selected for the prestigious Jo Cox Women in Leadership course, which served as a stepping stone for her career in politics.

We discussed how her ‘sunset career’ compares to having been an award-winning screenwriter and TV producer.  She relishes the variety, describing work ranging from sitting on committees to visiting care homes.  Being an MP can be demanding and all-encompassing.  Working 70 to 80 hours a week, Alison is certainly not yet on the glide path to retirement!  She clearly enjoys her constituency work and is proud of the positive impact she can make on the lives of her constituents.

Alison chose this photograph because it emphasised the importance of public transport in her rural constituency, her deep concerns about Ukraine, and I agreed with her wry humour that the café’s name was relevant to the work of MPs.

When we said our goodbyes, I left with a renewed sense of belief that many of our MPs are true public servants, and I had the privilege of meeting one of them. 

@gilliansnaps

Photographed by Eli Pimentel ARPS

One portrait at a time, members of the @royalphotographicsociety @wip commemorate the dedication of the U.K. Parliament’s 264 women MPs who now hold 40% of seats in the House of Commons.

As part of the 40% Project, I had the pleasure of photographing Dr Rupa Huq early one morning in September. Dr Huq has represented Ealing and Central Acton since 2015. Her brief spans education, media, social cohesion and youth opportunity, fields where representation and access are often unevenly distributed.

Beyond Westminster, Dr Huq engages in public debate through writing, radio and cultural analysis, drawing attention to how policy intersects with identity, class and belonging and urging institutions to examine more closely how they shape the stories people tell about themselves and each other. Her approach is curious, interrogative and grounded in the communities she serves. She is warm and energetic.

As we worked, peers and colleagues stopped her often in the corridors, eager to continue a conversation begun earlier, share an idea or simply to say hello. That openness to dialogue is central to her political style, a living exchange shared by people and through experience.

@elimpimentel

Photographed by Blondie Boswell

Leigh Ingham Labour MP for Stafford.Meeting Leigh in a cosy pub in Stafford on a cold Winters day was a real pleasure. She was open, friendly, grounded and warm. I found her to be confident, kind and a fun collaborator. Whilst we were setting up we had a delightful chat and she was clearly up to date, well informed and not to mention passionate about her constituency. She shared with me that she suggested to be photographed in a pub as one thing that she wished to represent was community, evidently this is at the forefront of all she does. The shoot was short, sweet and plain sailing thanks in part to her fantastic team.

It’s obvious that Leigh has the wisdom and courage to surround herself with like hearted and highly capable people.

Photographed by Nicole Lindsay

Labour party MP for Croydon East, Natasha Irons political journey is rooted in lived experience. Raised in a mould-ridden maisonette, she remembers nights spent sleeping beside a gas heater with her mother to stay warm. Everything shifted when the family moved into a secure social home—a moment that provided stability, dignity, and the foundation for new opportunity.

That early transformation informs her political purpose today: to ensure that secure, affordable housing is not a privilege but a right accessible to all. Irons is a dedicated advocate for young people, a generation facing diminishing resources, shrinking youth services, and increasing pressures on mental health. She champions investment in safe, supportive spaces where young people can belong, grow, and imagine a meaningful future.

Among her proudest achievements is securing £20 million for New Addington, a community known for its resilience and strong collective identity. Balancing parliamentary life with motherhood remains one of her greatest challenges, yet it also strengthens her understanding of the pressures facing families across the country.

For her, The 40% Project marks the growing normality of women’s presence in Parliament—an essential step toward equal representation. Irons hopes to be seen as an open, hardworking, and approachable representative—one who remains rooted in the everyday life of her constituency.

Her portrait reflects that intention: a grounded presence set within the flow of public space, connected to the people and the place she serves.

@nlindsayvisuals

Photographed by Rah Petherbridge

Sally Jameson is the Labour MP for Doncaster. Meeting Sally at the Houses of Parliament was quite a day. Her assistant, Molly, brought me up to the office and we spoke about the 40% Project before Sally arrived. From the start, there was a shared sense of purpose. We walked together through the building as she spoke about her work and her deep commitment to art, politics, and representation.

Photographing her there, I felt the weight of history alongside a real sense of pride — pride in the journey of women in politics, in how much has shifted, and in the persistence still required to keep moving forward.

As the shoot came to an end, Sally generously walked me through Westminster Hall, a part of the Palace of Westminster that has stood for over 1,000 years. She showed me the stained glass artwork in the hall, New Wave, which symbolises women in Parliament and the long, determined journey of how that work came to exist within such a historic institution.

Meeting Sally and making her part of the 40% Project is something I am deeply proud of. This image feels like a quiet but resolute marker of progress — new voices and new stories woven into a place shaped by centuries of power, tradition, and change.

www.rahpetherbridge.com / @rahpetherbridgephotography 

Photographed by Jennifer Charlton ARPS

Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West. Christine has been a member of Parliament since 2017 and represents the Scottish Liberal Democrats. She is currently the spokesperson for Women and Equalities.

We took the portrait in St Margarets Park near her office and nearby stands a plaque erected to remember the local Corstorphine "witches" which I thought was a timely reminder of how far we have come, but still have such a lot of progress to make with women's equality.

www.jennifercharltonphotography.com / @jennifercharltonphotography

Photographed by Dee Robinson ARPS

Liz Jarvis is the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh and sits on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee so when she decided on the Hampshire Cricket Ground it made a lot of sense. We tried out several locations within the cricket ground and it was this portrait that got her vote.

I discovered that she’d been in the media world which in some ways isn’t too far away from the political world.

Asking what made her decide to become an MP she explained to me that after experiencing some challenges in her life. She made a promise to herself that if she got through those challenges, she would do everything she could do something to help others, particularly families, and to use her voice and profile to speak out for them.

She says the most rewarding part of her job as an MP is knowing she has helped people in her constituency. That's what makes it all worthwhile.

@deerobinsonphotographer

Photographed by Heather Kerr LRPS

Lillian Jones is the Labour MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun. She kindly agreed to be photographed at short notice, and with the project nearing completion, I was keen to ensure she was part of this important historical record.

I met Lillian at her constituency office and she drove me to Newmilns (a small town in her constituency). Lillian chose to have her picture taken in front of a mural which was commissioned by a local volunteer group lovenewmilns.org which is a regeneration Association. The mural was produced by local artists Artisan Artworks who carry out street Art and murals. It shows a piece of lace and the Town’s Crest and Motto. This and another mural pay tribute to the lace making industry and the heritage of Newmilns and it's global significance. It is designed to boost footfall, support local business and engender conversation whilst recognising the towns heritage. Lillian was very accommodating and I think she chose her location well.

It was a privilege to have met Lillian and taken her photograph for this project.

Strathaven Camera Club

Photographed by Sarah Weatherhead

As the Member of Parliament for Newport West and Islwyn, representing the Labour Party, Ruth Jones carries forward a proud political tradition shaped by her constituency’s historic role in the struggle for democratic rights.

Meeting Ruth in the headquarters with the welsh weather beating down on the door our location plans were scrapped and it gave us a wonderful opportunity to talk through the historic importance her constituency holds. The Chartist Movement laid the foundations of modern democracy, a campaign that fought for political reform and expanded suffrage in the 19th century. The Chartists’ demands—including the right to vote, private ballots, and fair representation. This legacy continues to resonate strongly in Newport West and Islwyn, where the fight for equality and justice remains central to local identity. Ruth has consistently championed democratic participation and the protection of voting rights, recognising that the right to vote is fundamental to a fair and inclusive society. Her dedication has been recognised through her being awarded the 492 Suffragette Centenary Action sash, an accolade that honours those who continue the legacy of the suffrage movement and its fight for equal voting rights.

By connecting the past struggles of the Chartists and suffragettes with present-day challenges, Ruth Jones reinforces the enduring importance of political engagement. Her passion for politics is not only about policy, but about people—honouring those who fought for democracy and ensuring that every voice today has the opportunity to be heard.

brandedbyphotography.com / @brandedbyphotography

Photographed by Roey Qiu ARPS

Sarah Jones has represented Croydon in Parliament since 2017 and is a Labour MP with a strong focus on community, youth engagement, and social justice.

This portrait was taken in Wandle Park’s skate facility, a place full of colour, movement, and creativity. The setting was chosen for its symbolism: an open public space where young people gather, express themselves, and form connections. It reflects both Croydon’s character and Jones’ commitment to being present within the everyday life of her constituency.

On the day of the shoot, those at the skate park were invited to join the frame. Their presence shaped the image into an informal grouping that highlights the diversity and inclusivity of Croydon. This collective composition resists the idea of political portraiture as solitary or distant. Instead, it presents leadership as grounded, approachable, and connected to community voices.

The photograph celebrates women’s representation in Parliament not as an abstract statistic but as lived experience. By placing Jones within a shared, local space, it underscores the importance of visibility, accessibility, and dialogue in shaping what political presence means today.

www.instagram.com/roeyqiu_photo

Photographed by Clair Robins

I was delighted to photograph Caroline, Conservative MP for Sleaford & North Hykeham, in a place she genuinely cares about. Her choice of a rural location with deep military heritage proved the perfect backdrop, even on a grey late-autumn day. Her warm, witty personality shone through effortlessly against the dramatic 26-metre steel replica of an Avro Lancaster bomber, a striking new landmark in “Bomber County” located at Norton Disney, Lincolnshire.

Capturing Caroline in natural, comfortable attire, in a landscape close to her heart, was central to the portrait. A small detail, the subtle glint of her Countryside Alliance “I Was There, March 1st, 1998” badge echoed her long-standing connection to and advocacy for the countryside. A busy mum, caring paediatric consultant, and experienced MP, she remains deeply committed to her community and passionate about the people she represents.

As the 455th woman ever elected to Parliament, she helped push the number of female MPs past a historic milestone, marking an important moment in political representation.

My aim was to create a natural, authentic portrait, and I was fortunate: almost every frame held a smile. To me, this image is a powerful reflection of the 40% of MPs who are now women. It captures not just Caroline’s role in Parliament, but the real person behind it, someone who appears to work tirelessly for her constituents while remaining an approachable and grounded member of the Sleaford and North Hykeham community. It was a privilege to capture such a grounded composition of Caroline at such a poignant site.

www.clairrobins.com / @clairscollections / @clair_r_photo

Photographed by Abbie Jennings

Dame Diana Johnson is the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham. I met Diana one afternoon in August when the weather was extremely temperamental, we battled sun, rain and wind all within the space of half an hour. We met at Hull University by the iconic white telephone box on campus, which has now been turned into a mini library.

Dame Diana Johnson was Hull’s first female MP.

www.abbiejennings.co.uk / @abbiejennings.co.uk

Photographed by Rachel Brewster-Wright

This portrait, taken with an Olympus OM1 on HP5+ B&W 35mm film, was created as a collaboration between myself, Rachel Brewster-Wright (Little Vintage Photography & Liverpool Darkroom) and Kim Johnson Labour MP. Kim represents Liverpool Riverside, the constituency where she was born, brought up and still lives. Since being elected in 2019 as Liverpool’s first Black MP, and with a background in community development and adult social care, she has committed to speaking up for all the residents in the most diverse constituency in the city.

As part of our collaboration, we chose the North Dock area of Liverpool as the location because it is a place that is meaningful to both of us. For Kim, as a symbol of the connecting link between the north and south, the diverse communities that make up this city, and the port industry it was built on... For me, as the place I first came to in 1999, where I set up Little Vintage Photography (one of the first female-run darkrooms in the UK) and became the Darkroom Educator for ILFORD, teaching photographers workshops in how to shoot with film and process & print in the darkroom by hand.

When I look at these images now, I am reminded that as women, with all our various responsibilities, we're nothing if not resilient, and that collaboration and human connection are the building blocks that hold us all together in this very special city.

littlevintagephotography.co.uk / @littlevintagephotography / @liverpool_darkroom

Photographed by Janey Devine FRPS

Satvir Kaur, MP for Southampton Test, has lived in Southampton her entire life. Growing up in the inner-city, in an area of deprivation, Satvir helped out at her parents’ sari stall, and found solace in the city’s parks and libraries — places that shaped her love for community and learning. Satvir went on to serve as a Labour councillor in Shirley for over a decade, later becoming Cabinet Member and then Leader of Southampton City Council, becoming the first female Sikh council leader in Britain. Throughout her roles within the council Satvir has always championed culture, housing, and fought to protect local library services.

Elected as MP for Southampton Test in 2024, Satvir has continued her dedication to public service, working with her predecessor Alan Whitehead CBE to promote local and renewable energy. Satvir is deeply passionate about improving social housing and providing more opportunities for those who have felt left behind, believing that this can transform lives and communities.

In a historic milestone, Satvir became the first MP to be appointed to a ministerial position while on maternity leave. She will take up her role as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office upon her return.

www.janeydevine.com 

Photographed by Dee Robinson ARPS

Conservative for MP Rutland and Stamford, Alicia is no stranger to Parliament and its workings, after graduating from Fitzwilliam College in 2009 with a degree in social and political sciences she started work for the MOD and later the Foreign Office. Deciding in 2016 that she’d enter politics and in 2019 was elected MP for Rutland and Melton. Later in 2023 it was renamed Rutland and Stamford. Rutland is England’s smallest (approximately 16 miles long by 16 miles wide) and one of the prettiest counties in England.

We met at one of the many stately homes in the county on a cold and foggy January day, Alicia was a real trooper taking her coat off and on and getting cold in the process. Luckily we managed to shoot some inside. Over a coffee I discovered what a dedicated MP she is, the way she talked about her constituency, her dedication is there for all to see. The young woman who bought the coffee to our table said “you’re Alicia Kearnes aren’t you? I follow your page; I don’t know anything about politics but you’re all about Rutland”.

@deerobinsonphotographer

Photographed by Holly Hann

As part of the RPS Women in Photography 40% Project, I had the opportunity to photograph MP Naushabah Khan within her constituency, Naushabah has a strong track record of working to improve the local area. A Gillingham South councillor from 2015-2024, she has shown her unwavering passion and commitment to fight for change by representing the place she loves and is the driving force behind the Love Gillingham initiative.

On July 4 2024, she became MP for Gillingham and Rainham, the first Labour candidate to be elected locally in nearly 20 years, and the first woman to represent the area.

While we explored several meaningful outdoor locations across her constituency, including local landmarks and community spaces, the final chosen portrait was taken indoors. The backdrop features political artwork displaying a Barbara Castle quote connected to the Equal Pay Act: “In politics, guts is all.” This reference to Castle’s legacy and the ongoing fight for equality resonated deeply with Naushabah, making the image a powerful reflection of the conviction and courage required of women in political life.

My aim throughout was to create images that reflect the strength, warmth, and dedication Naushabah brings to her role, while contributing to a project that highlights the visibility and voices of women working in politics. I believe that the final chosen image encapsulates that spirit, helping to highlight how women are shaping political life today.

@busyhanns

Photographed by Josie Purcell ARPS

I met Jayne, the Labour & Co-operative MP for Falmouth & Truro, on an unusually autumnal early August day. Not deterred by the Cornish mizzle, Jayne cycled to meet me at the Falmouth Town Council-run Kimberley Park, a community space close to her heart from her time as a local councillor helping to establish a café and a recording studio in its grounds. We chatted about Jayne’s new life as an MP, and how she sometimes still asks herself if it’s real when she’s in Parliament’s Chambers. She told me about the inspirational women MPs she has met and although humble herself it was clear Jayne is resolutely determined to enact long-term change for the better. This particularly relates to her interest in health and environment, and she holds memberships in Committees and participates in All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

She acknowledged that current politics are challenging but “more good things are coming” as positive work can go under the radar of mainstream news headlines. Jayne described her role as an MP as needing to be “annoying, tenacious and irrepressible” in varying degrees to get things done. But we also spoke about taking time for self-care to bolster personal wellbeing and fostering joy as an act of resilience. We met during the summer recess, which is a time for Jayne to catch up on all the important local matters.

At the end of the photo session, Jayne donned her raincoat ready to cycle back to work to write three local news columns and attend more meetings before the day’s end.

Photographed by Tia Lloyd

Sonia Kumar, Labour MP for Dudley visited us at Halesowen college where myself an a Student Madison Woodford-Black photographed the MP.

Sonia is extremely  passionate about her consituency and is currently fighting to keep local community facilities accessible to all, including local clinics and libraries. 

www.instagram.com/tialaurenlloyds_shutter/

Photographed by Sophie Ellen Lachowycz

Uma Kumaran is the first MP to be elected within the newly created Stratford and Bow constituency, and the first MP of Tamil heritage.

Towards the end of the summer parliamentary recess, we met in her constituency to create this portrait. Collaborating in a warehouse studio space, we explored blending my fashion aesthetic with portraiture that promotes strength and female empowerment.

Stratford and Bow has a rich heritage of women in power, political activism and women’s rights movements, including the Matchgirls’ Strike and the headquarters of the East London Federation of Suffragettes. In her maiden speech in Parliament, Uma referenced these, highlighting the area’s deep tradition of activism and women’s political participation.

As a photographer, I have worked on projects promoting women in Parliament and attended campaign events aiming for equal representation. I am passionate about ensuring we live in a world of equality, where women’s views and lived experiences are represented. I want my daughter to grow up with every opportunity available to her, including, if she wishes, a career in politics.

Uma embodies this spirit, taking an active role in her constituency by engaging with people, businesses, charities, etc., as well as contributing widely within The Labour Party. 

It was inspiring to hear her enthusiasm for this role while we were chatting on set. Uma brought great energy to the shoot, resulting in a portrait that reflects her passion and purpose. 

Uma Kumaran photographed at Peanut Factory Studio by Sophie Ellen Lachowycz, assisted by Hannah Gadd. 

Photographed by Sarah Padilha MA ARPS

Laura Kyrke-Smith is the Member of Parliament for Aylesbury gaining the seat for the Labour Party for the first time in its history in 2024. She has had a career in the government and the charity sector and with her warm and engaging personality uses her skill set well in representing her constituency.

Laura is heavily involved in the local community and evidently committed to change for residents and developing thriving sustainable communities. We met on a very hot day in June.

Not unsurprisingly it was important to Laura to be photographed in the community that is so important to her. Like all MPs she has a demanding schedule but at no point did I feel rushed and we were able to talk freely over a coffee before heading out to take photographs. Laura is passionate about fairness and the people of our communities. She has been actively involved in cross party discussions notably the perinatal mental health support within the maternity care in the health service.

What is so evident in spending time with Laura is her sincerity; she listens and values what people have to contribute to discussion. The portrait we have chosen I feel reflects this well.

@padilhaimages