OKEHAMPTON MP Mel Stride is calling on more women to stand for public office as the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of women being granted the right to vote.

With the next round of district council elections due in May next year, he is urging more women in his constituency from all parties to put themselves forward.

‘At the last set of local elections in 2015 the Conservatives fielded twice as many female candidates in Central Devon as Labour and the Lib Dems put together,’ he said. ‘More than 40% of our candidates were women and nearly two-thirds were elected, and they have since done a brilliant job representing residents across our constituency.

‘I hope more women will come forward and stand for all parties in 2019 and we can continue to increase the number of women in public office at every tier of Government.’

He also welcomed the cross-party support in the House of Commons last week for a motion allowing MPs who have recently become parents to nominate a colleague to cast their votes in Parliament on their behalf.

‘This is an important step forward and will be particularly beneficial to new mothers,’ he said.