Celebrating Women MPs in Parliament

Photographed by Heather Kerr LRPS

It was a great pleasure to have met Alison Taylor for this photoshoot. I live in Strathaven (a small market town in Lanarkshire). Alison represents Labour Paisley and Renfrewshire North. When she asked me if I had travelled far and I said from Strathaven, she was delighted, as that’s where she was from and grew up there. We then had a great rapport and talked about Strathaven.

Alison wanted her photograph taken in an area and place that would be recognisable to her constituents. She therefore had chosen a central area of Paisley where the statue and Cathedral church are dedicated to St Mirin. He was an Irish monk and missionary who founded a religious community in Scotland that indirectly went on to become Paisley Abbey. As a result he is viewed as the patron saint of Paisley. The Cathedral is one of the most important buildings in Paisley at the heart of the largest populated town in Scotland.

It is also where white rather than pink cherry blossom trees are planted and she wanted these to be captured too. It was challenging at this location which was very busy with traffic and the time of day with very bright conditions. This image encapsulates how Alison recognises all the female MPs who have gone before her with the canopy of blossom and dwarfed by the statue of St Mirin the importance of the monk to the community of Paisley.

Photographed by Deborah Hutt

Photographing Rachel Taylor MP, Labour member for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, was an absolute delight. Framed by the iconic backdrop of Westminster, Rachel posed with quiet confidence, endless patience and always with a twinkle in her eye!

As one of Parliament’s newer members, Rachel is already making her mark — championing issues like freight crime, social justice, healthcare reform, and equality with clarity and conviction. Her passion for community engagement and grassroots sport along with her background in law shine through in everything she says and does. What struck me most was her openness: she spoke candidly about the challenges of public life and her hopes for a more inclusive political landscape.

Rachel’s portrait aims to reflect not just her role in Parliament, but the kind of leader she is — engaged, empathetic, and driven by a desire to make real change.

@debshutt

Photographed by Nicola Tree

Dame Emily Thornberry MP has represented Islington South and Finsbury for twenty years. She was elected Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee last year, after serving for nearly a decade in the Labour Shadow Cabinet.  

We wanted to take photos with globes and maps to represent her focus on foreign affairs. Where better than the Royal Geographical Society? A fitting location not only because they house over one million maps in their historic Collections but also because their work with schools, universities, businesses and in policy is driven by a commitment to help tackle today’s global challenges through the championing of geography.   Director Joe Smith welcomed us and treated us to a tour of the Society’s Collections, sharing the work they are doing to bring the contributions and achievements of those previously obscured from history to light. Emily was particularly moved by a picture of Arnarulunnguaq, a Greenlandic woman born in 1896 who travelled 18,000km across the Arctic and Bering Strait with the Thule expedition. Largely overlooked in past histories of exploration, her photograph now hangs in the Main Hall of the Society for all to see.   

Emily’s portrait was taken in the Society’s Council Room, among historic globes and portraits of geographers and explorers. She chose to have her picture taken in front of a portrait of Peter Kropotkin, a nineteenth century Russian physical geographer and key anarchist thinker. During his exile from Imperial Russia key figures in the Society enabled him to maintain his research and writing, including his educational manifesto ‘What Geography Ought to Be' which argued that geography is not only fundamental to understanding the natural world, but also to nurturing mutual respect.

www.nicolatree.com

Photographed by Jenny Owen LRPS

Dr Marie Tidball was elected as Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire in 2024: the first MP there in one hundred years to have grown up in the constituency, and the first MP with congenital limb difference. Marie gained a law degree, MA and Doctorate from Oxford and came to Parliament with experience in research, activism and community work. She has campaigned for the rights of people with disabilities and for improvements in maternity care. These themes are closely linked for Marie, given her personal experience of accessing health services as a mother with physical disabilities.

Marie has been a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity, is Co-Chair, Disability Parliamentary Labour Party and Chair, Members' Accessibility Group and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Business and Trade. No surprise, then, that Marie's diary was packed, and suggested a shoot in Westminster.

I arrived at Portcullis House on a damp February afternoon, to a cheery welcome. Marie had identified some locations, and her team kindly provided a ring light (invaluable in the dimly-lit interiors). As we moved from office to committee room and then the lobby, I was struck by Marie's warmth and sense of humour as she exchanged greetings and updates with passing MPs and Parliamentary staff. Her enthusiasm and commitment really stood out. Marie chose an image from the parliamentary lobby setting, reflecting her own determined stance and her in-depth work on behalf of her constituents.

@jennyowenphoto

Photographed by Qian Li ARPS

My portrait shoot with Jessica Toale MP began with a firm handshake outside the charming Westbourne Arcade. Jessica, the Labour MP for Bournemouth West, is determined to reinvigorate the town’s high streets and introduced me to hidden gems of local businesses—rekindling precious memories of my own time living in Bournemouth.

During the shoot, we were occasionally stopped by residents who recognised her. Jessica greeted each with a warm smile and handshake before seamlessly returning to the session. She carried this friendliness and confidence throughout, brightening the otherwise grey weather. Jessica Toale MP’s priorities include reviving the town centre, protecting the environment, investing in public services, building safer communities, and ensuring fairer housing—all part of her vision to restore the vibrant town she remembers from her youth. That passion was clear in our conversation, and it was a pleasure to capture her determination toward this vision in this portrait, celebrating the milestone of 40% female representation in Parliament.

www.michelleqianliphoto.com / @mclee917

Photographed by Sujata Setia

Laura Trott’s presence in Parliament carries with it a sense of early conviction - the rare clarity of someone who knew, from a young age, that public life could be a means of service. As a child, she understood politics not as power, but as responsibility: a way to help people, to intervene where harm could be prevented, and to shape environments in which future generations might feel safer, more protected, and more seen.

That impulse continues to define her work today. One of the causes she has pursued with particular determination is the removal of mobile phone usage from schools within her constituency. At a time when the mental health of children and young people is increasingly shaped by digital exposure, surveillance, and comparison, this advocacy speaks to a deeply maternal mode of politics - one rooted in care, foresight, and protection rather than spectacle. It is not a campaign driven by headlines, but by an understanding of how quiet, everyday structures shape childhood itself.

Photographing Laura Trott for the 40% Women in Parliament project felt like an encounter with a woman whose political identity is inseparable from a long-held ethical instinct. Her work reflects a belief that leadership can be preventative, attentive, and grounded in listening - qualities that have historically been undervalued within political culture, yet are increasingly vital.

As the number of women in Parliament reaches a significant threshold, Trott’s story reminds us that representation is not only about presence, but about the values women bring with them: a politics shaped by care, continuity, and the courage to act early, before damage becomes irreversible. Laura Trott is the Conservative MP for Sevenoaks

sujatasetia.com / @sujatasetia 

Photographed by Alexandra Prescott FRPS

Anna Turley was elected as the MP for Redcar and Cleveland in July 2024, previously serving from 2015 to 2019   She was Junior Lord of the Treasury (Government Whip) from 10 July 2024 to 6 September 2025.

Anna was appointed Minister of State in the Cabinet Office (Minister without Portfolio) on 6 September 2025 and appointed as a Member of the Privy Council on 10th September 2025. 

Our shoot was arranged for the 4^th August 2025 at South Gare Beach an area of reclaimed land and breakwater on the southern side of the mouth of the River Tees in Redcar and Cleveland., a site of special scientific interest. On the day, a yellow weather warning was in place with winds of up to 23 mph. Anna’s ‘can do’ attitude and her personal mantra of ‘Never forget who put you there, on whose behalf you’re working’, which has contributed so much towards her professional success, supported her decision to go ahead anyway. 

Whilst we faced the wind and showers, we talked of many things including her ambition to make the area into a wildlife reserve and her personal interest in photography.  Anna never once stopped smiling, pausing only to wipe away the raindrops as the weather got steadily worse. A quick review   of images on the card and a selfie with Anna and her team, we considered the job done.   

I received the following email a few days later

Thank you so much for the photography session on Monday. Despite the wild weather and gusty winds, it was such a relaxed and enjoyable morning and lovely to have the chance to chat with you.

You made it all feel very easy, and the images look fantastic. I really appreciate you taking the time to be involved (with the RPS WIP Project).

Thanks again for making it such a fun and memorable shoot!

Photographed by Alexandra Prescott MA FRPS

Liz Twist, MP for Blaydon and Consett. Her passion for her constituency was evident before we met – as we discussed how and where she would like to be photographed.

“I want a recognisable constituency background to feature in the portrait”

Two days of onsite reconnoitres with stand-in models including constituents and I had an idea of how I could present Liz. Her PR team liked the ideas and the plan for the day was agreed. My positive experiences of using constituents as stand in models gave me an insight to the high level of local respect and how popular she is as an MP.

On the day when Liz arrived – there was sunshine (no need for my rainy-day shoot plan). As well as being dressed for business, she had a number of different colour jackets and her sash showing the number 473 denoting that she was the 473rd woman MP to be elected to Westminster. I asked her to choose her favourite, and we also choose a couple of back up colours

During the shoot no one could have done more to put me at my ease, nothing was too much trouble and time was no concern, her team had allocated the day.

As we walked from site-to-site Liz told me about her background as a Councillor and the things that mattered to the constituency, the things that she is passionate about. Wellbeing, green spaces, education and regeneration being high on the list.

As we walked people stopped to say hi and Liz had a word /time for everyone, especially the small children. One particular shot (which wasn’t the final choice) involved a sculptured wood bench which was very popular and we had to wait till it came free. Liz spent the time talking to passers-by.

The final portrait shows Liz Twist. MP in her sash, under the Butterfly Bridge. This is an iconic and significant industrial and social history crossing point on the River Derwent. It has been damaged and rebuilt many times, this century in 2008 by floods and rebuilt in 2011.

Photographed by Nicola Tree

Harpreet Uppal, the newly elected Labour MP for Huddersfield in 2024, welcomed me to her hometown as the deadline for the 40% Project rapidly approached. With only a short window to shoot, I made a quick trip to Huddersfield to meet Harpreet and her brilliant team.

What made the day especially memorable was how personal the locations were. Harpreet had carefully chosen places around the town that held strong childhood memories, giving the shoot a genuine sense of connection and storytelling.

We began in the park where, as a child, she spent long summer days with her family, splashing in the paddling pools and playing with friends. From there we moved to the statue of Harold Wilson outside Huddersfield railway station — a tribute to Britain’s Prime Minister in 1974 and one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks. We also visited the Accu Stadium, home to Huddersfield’s passionate football and rugby communities, another place closely tied to local identity and pride.

The final portrait selected from the edit captures Harpreet seated on the steps of the bandstand in Greenhead Park — a quiet, reflective moment in a place filled with personal history.

www.nicolatree.com

Photographed by Monika Drzewicz

I joined the 40% Project just before its final chapter and was paired with Valerie Vaz. What followed was a month-long exchange of emails featuring an impressive choreography of cancellations and rescheduling. At some point, I began to suspect the session might remain purely theoretical, and worried my persistence might be wearing thin. Then, in a moment I would happily erase from history, I managed to address her as “Mr” in not one, but two emails. She politely corrected me. I, internally, began planning my disappearance.

By the time we finally confirmed a date, I arrived at Westminster Hall with a healthy dose of apprehension, fully prepared for a polite but strained encounter.

Instead, the opposite unfolded. She arrived and immediately dismantled every anxious storyline I had been rehearsing. Warm, self-assured, and effortlessly engaging, she brought a sense of ease that transformed the entire experience. Fully present and open to collaboration, she approached the session with generosity and curiosity.

We spent around ninety minutes together, during which she shared her knowledge of Westminster with genuine enthusiasm, leading me through spaces that feel almost mythical in their inaccessibility. The session became far richer than a portrait sitting — a meeting of minds, not just a photographic exercise.

I left not only with the images, but with an invitation for tea at Westminster — a rather perfect ending to a project dedicated to celebrating women’s contributions to public life.

Rt Hon Valerie Vaz MP is the Labour MP for Walsall and Bloxwich, serving since 2010. A barrister by training, she has held prominent parliamentary roles, including Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, with a focus on equality, justice, and human rights.

www.monide-photography.com / @monivandrevitz

Photographed by Karen Brindley ARPS

I had the pleasure of photographing Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon) at the end of summer as Parliament returned. We selected the fishing town of Brixham for the shoot, mainly because it’s the UK’s second largest fishing port and along with agriculture and hospitality/tourism, these sectors significantly contribute to the revenues and employment opportunities within her constituency.

Caroline’s journey in politics started just after the Brexit referendum, when she felt compelled to speak out about the UK’s move away from Europe and at that time the fishing community were certainly pro-Brexit. But over the intervening years, the improved fishing rights never materialised and Caroline has been working with this community to take up their concerns on fishing quota and ecology safeguarding.

South Devon is a very large, mainly rural constituency and while it has stunning scenery, at times, it can feel a million miles away from the capital, due to its poor transport links and even poorer broadband services – issues that are also close to Caroline’s heart. Her background in journalism and running charitable causes, has clearly provided her with the necessary skills to interact with all kinds of people, quickly understand salient issues and then champion them.

In all my dealings with Caroline, she came across as warm, forthright, determined and focused. One of the additional benefits to this project, seems to be the universal admiration by the photographers for these MPs (regardless of their party), who work tirelessly on behalf of their constituents.

karenbrindleyphotography.com

Photographed by Sally Anderson LRPS

Imogen Walker is the MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley in Scotland. She has served as a Labour Party politician since the 2024 general election.

Her chosen location for our shoot was New Lanark, a fabulous industrial World Heritage Site comprising a unique 18th century mill and model village known for its philanthropist Robert Owen who instituted workplace, social and educational reforms. It was a fitting location given that Imogen's maiden speech was during the Employment Rights Bill in October 2024, and she was the Government teller in the House of Commons when the Bill became the Employment Rights Act in December 2025.

We met on a cold frosty day in early January and were spoilt for choice with the many wonderful architectural features and picturesque views. As a former actress, Imogen is skilled in posing, so needed very little direction. As well as a portrait, I thought it was important to capture the context of the location.

www.sallyanderson.co.uk / @sallyandersonphotos

Photographed by Alice Poole

Melanie Ward is the Scottish Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, elected in 2024 to represent this newly formed constituency in Fife.

I met Melanie on a clear but blustery day in North Queensferry, where the view stretched across three iconic bridges as we looked towards Cowdenbeath. We stopped to take her portrait at a place that holds particular meaning for her; the Forth Bridge. We spoke about the importance of the bridge in connecting communities, and how its history feels deeply intertwined with the area itself. In many ways, the Forth Bridge has come to symbolise this new constituency and Melanie’s journey into Parliament. Melanie’s parliamentary work often bridges the gap between domestic and global issues. Prior to entering politics, she spent years working in humanitarian aid before becoming CEO of Medical Aid for Palestinians. After an impressive humanitarian career, Melanie realised she wanted to be directly involved in creating change, understanding that political power could be a force for meaningful action.

Throughout our time together, her commitment to Scotland and to Fife was unmistakable. I met Melanie on a busy day, travelling between the House of Commons and Cowdenbeath, shortly after she had secured funding under the Growth Mission Fund to help restore Kirkcaldy town centre. It was inspiring to see her commitment in action, and to reflect on what it means to witness women shaping political spaces and using their voice and power to enforce change for good.

alicepoole.co @alicepoole__ 

Photographed by Sarah Parnell

Michelle Welsh is Labour MP for Sherwood Forest. I met with Michelle, in her constituency office to find a concern in the air, a situation had occurred that very morning which had an effect on the whole office. We sat together for a cup of tea and a chat regarding the work Michelle is deeply involved with As Chair of the Maternity All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). Michelle’s commitment can only be described as a tireless advocate, for the families impacted by the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust systemic failings back in 2021. Her work alongside Donna Ockenden, Chair of the Independent Maternity Review, and other key figures in the fight for better maternity care are helping change how we deliver maternity services in the UK. An issue which is often underrepresented in the media, despite its far-reaching impact. Michelle continues to push for justice and reform on behalf of the families she works so closely with.

This portrait of Michelle serves as a reminder of the critical issues women like her are championing. It captures a moment of contemplation, on a morning where work requires her to pivot from one issue to another, all requiring the same care and due diligence. Through the intimate perspective of a female photographer, the image conveys not just her political influence, but her empathy and commitment to those she represents.

The 40% Project focus on female MP’s highlights the unique perspectives women bring to positions of power, showcasing the vital work of those like Michelle Welsh, who strive to make a difference in the lives of others. 

@parnellsarahj

Photographed by Esther Serrano LRPS

Catherine West, Labour MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet since 2015, serves on the Treasury Select Committee. She was Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Indo-Pacific (2024–2025) and has worked on cross-party initiatives in human rights, sustainability, economic cooperation, and development. Australian-born, she has academic backgrounds in social sciences and languages. 

Her chosen location to be photographed, Alexandra Palace, is at the heart of her constituency. Built in early 1870s as a cultural landmark, it later served as a refuge for those fleeing the First World War.

Catherine West‘s ideology mirrors the Palace’s history: she is committed to ensure that arts and culture are accessible to all, not only the privileged ones. She is determined to improve public services and social justice; championing refugee rights; mental health care; free school meals; youth employment; humane treatment of prisoners and efforts to reduce discrimination against women and marginalised groups.

Environmental protection is also central to her politics. At the location where her portrait was taken -Palm Court- expansive glass ceilings flood the space with natural light, complementing the lush plants and striking architecture. Catherine West’s portrait highlights history, innovation as well as cultural and natural heritage.

Catherine West founded the Islington Fairness Commission, to address inequality, and her leadership has been recognised with Local Authority Leader of the Year (2013) and MP of the Year from the Patchwork Foundation (2022).

I would like to thank Alexandra Palace staff for their assistance.

www.esther-serrano-artist.com (in preparation)

Photographed by Catherine Smith

Helen Whately Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, since 2015, is Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Our meeting took place at Standard Quay in Faversham on a cold and notably windy morning in late September. Standard Quay, a historic former commercial port, positioned on the navigable arm of The Swale, traces its origins in maritime trade to AD 699.

Today, following regeneration efforts it serves as a hub for local business while maintaining its function as an active working quay. The chosen portrait was taken in front of Customs House, where it offered partial shelter from the prevailing wind. Helen faced into the breeze, a gesture that seemed to capture her direct and pragmatic nature observed during our time together. The solid white brickwork provided a classic backdrop, its clarity accentuating her lateral profile. Positioned in the lower two-thirds of the frame, she appears grounded, a composition that suggests both resilience and opportunity.

During our conversation Helen spoke with conviction about the challenges facing local farming and industry. Her words carried a sense of care and concern reflecting her deep commitment to the community she represents. When I asked why she chose politics, she explained that it was where she felt she could make the greatest difference.

www.cat8smithphotography.com /@cat8smithphotography

Photographed by Lucy Saggers

Jo chose to meet in Retford Market Square, a place of deep political history where votes were bought and sold prior to the 1832 Parliamentary Reform Act.

Having been involved in politics since her youth, it was after Jo’s children had grown up and left home that she became increasingly politically active. In 2012 Jo was elected as a councillor, becoming Deputy Leader  in 2015, and at the general election in 2024 she was elected Labour MP for Bassetlaw.

During our time in Retford Market Place, Jo was approached by a constituent struggling to get the necessary support for his housing repairs. Jo took time to carefully listen and assure him she will follow up his case.

It was a privilege to see this constituency work in action.

www.lucysaggers.com

Photographed by Evelyn Lawrence

As an honorary Yorkshirewoman - having moved here from Derbyshire and married a Yorkshireman - I wanted this portrait to be rooted in the landscape of ‘God’s own county’. 

When the RPS Women in Photography group paired me with Katie White the Labour MP for Leeds North West, I was struck by how her environmental work, from co-leading the campaign for the Climate Change Act 2008, to receiving an OBE for services to tackling climate change, resonated with this vision.

In our conversation, Katie spoke less of the ‘doom and gloom’ side of climate action, and more of highlighting the joy the environment brings: the restorative act of stepping outside, breathing deeply, and feeling better for it. That moment of pause became central to my concept.

I created a simple portrait of Katie on a white background inside her constituency office, then overlaid it with an image I’d taken at Otley Chevin, an iconic 700-acre nature reserve within Leeds North West. This is near the top of the Chevin’s ‘Surprise View’, where a figure stands, breathing in the surroundings. Katie’s pose echoes this gesture, inviting the viewer to share in the same quiet moment of connection with nature.

Photographed by Mia Rodgers

Robin Hood – A symbol of hope, freedom and rebellion against injustice. When Nadia Whittome suggested the Robin Hood statue in Nottingham as a location for our photoshoot it immediately struck me as a relevant symbol when you look at politics today. Nadia Whittome joined parliament in 2019 as Labour MP for Nottingham East. At the time, she was baby of the house at just 23 years old.

Nadia is Nottingham born and bred, a true part of her community in Nottingham East. In fact, in the middle of shooting an old schoolmate of Nadia’s walked past, we stopped and chatted with her for a bit, discussing her recent wedding and the project we’re working on. When talking to Nadia, it really felt like she was one of us.

We discussed why she got into politics, and she cited a feeling of anger about politics – something I think much of the British public can relate to. It felt truly refreshing to speak to an elected member of parliament who can relate to what the wider public are feeling too – in fact this is something she actively thinks about, telling me that, for example, while she can’t relate to the struggles of trans people she can use her experiences as a queer woman of colour in Britain to empathise with issues she may not directly experience.

It was a pleasure to meet and photograph an MP who approaches her role in politics with such care and empathy.

@mimilouphoto

Photographed by Qian Li ARPS

Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat for Twickenham. The portrait of Munira Wilson MP was taken at her office near York House, Twickenham, on a sunny Friday afternoon. As the Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham, Munira is dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents in her constituency, including in the areas of health, the environment, the cost of living and transport.

As the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Children, Young People and Families, Munira is particularly passionate about supporting parents and providing children and young people with the best opportunities to thrive in life. Munira’s care for her community is evident not only in her political work but also in the small moments of everyday life. While we were crossing the road to reach the next photoshoot location, she paused to patiently help a woman with directions to York House—an unprompted gesture that quietly reflected her approachable and compassionate nature. Friendly and patient, Munira made the collaborative photoshoot an enjoyable experience.

As a resident of Twickenham, I was pleased to mark the milestone of 40% female representation in Parliament by photographing her.

www.michelleqianliphoto.com / @mclee917 

Photographer Dee Robinson ARPS

Yuan Yang Labour MP for Earley and Woodley. Yuan was born in China bought up by her maternal grandparents and at the age of 4 joined her parents in the North of England, as a child she was passionate about writing, attended Bradford Grammer, attained a first class honours degree in PPE at Oxford. She has also received further degrees from the London School of Economics and Peking University Then returned to China in 2016 working as a journalist for the Financial Times.

She entered Parliament in 2024 becoming the UK's first Chinese-born MP. I discovered a lady who loves the outdoors and nature, loves camping trips and climbing trees. A real delight to be with.

Photographed by Janet Gibson

Claire Young was elected as the Liberal Democrat MP for Thornbury & Yate in July 2024. Her previous experience as a Councillor and Council Leader informs her knowledge of the constituency and local issues. She is a passionate advocate for SEND education rights and the environment and sits on the Energy Security & Net Zero Select Committee.

I met Claire Young MP, on 2 January 2026, at St John’s Church in Old Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, which like many Norman churches was perched on an ancient knoll. 

It was a cold, sunny morning and, as we walked to the location, Claire shared her story of what drew her into public service and ultimately led her to stand for Parliament. Claire’s passion for making a difference in her community was evident; as a parent herself, she campaigned with other parents to address under funding in local schools. 

Outside the church we were greeted with a spectacular panoramic view which seems to stretch endlessly across the winter landscape. St John the Baptist Chipping Sodbury was visible and on the distant horizon the two Severn Bridges to the west. Claire chose this location as it offered a sense of the community she represents.  

Beyond her political work, Claire has a range of interests; played football, is a keen walker and an amateur photographer, like me. Photographing Claire enabled me to capture a snapshot of a person who is actively shaping local and national policy. For me, what distinguishes Claire's approach to politics is her belief that politicians need to listen more. 

janetgibson12@googlemail.com