Theresa May has given her one piece of advice for aspiring female politicians – “be yourself”.
The Prime Minister was applauded after she urged women not to feel like they have to conform to a “stereotype” of a male politician to get ahead.
Mrs May, who was one of only 13 female Tory MPs in 1997 when she was first elected to represent Maidenhead, said women sometimes take a different approach to men in politics and business, “but that doesn’t mean it’s not just as good”.
Answering questions after a speech in Manchester to mark 100 years since women won the right to vote, the PM said: “When I first became a member of Parliament, yes, there were only 13 Conservative women MPs. The number is considerably more now, over 60, so I think we’ve made great strides.
“I think the important thing for a woman in politics, I would say, is be yourself, actually.
“As I said in my speech, women do often approach… their way of doing politics is sometimes different from men, it’s the same in business as well, but that doesn’t mean it’s not just as good, and it is just as good.
“So I would say be yourself, don’t feel you have to be a sort of stereotype of a man in order to get on in politics.
“Be yourself and believe in what you’re doing.”