Looking good, Women2Win

It started with a random email – would I be interested in attending the first “Women2 Winâ€? networking evening in a smart hotel near the Houses of Parliament? I am intrigued…..

So in November I find myself at the City Inn Hotel in a bar with Sex-in-the-City-ish type of women: young, hip and oozing with confidence. I look around me, still intrigued and think that all these self-assured women must know each other.

I turn out to be wrong on this account: most of the women are, like me, attending on their own. We are a cross-section of women from different ethnic and social backgrounds, from the city or out in the sticks, and of varying ages and sexual orientation. We are a diverse mix of single, married and divorced women. We are mothers and career women, councillors and volunteers.

However, there is one thing we have in common: we are all curious to find out more about the party, and in particular David Cameron’s leadership, and many of us wish to get involved in the new direction the Conservative party is going.

My head is spinning from all the different and engaging women I am meeting. I introduce myself to a woman who tells me she is a councillor and gay. I politely ask why it is relevant for her to tell me this. She replies that in the new Conservative party, all sexualities are welcome. I am impressed with her honesty and feel a real sense that the Conservative party is changing.

I meet a teacher from an inner city school that is closing, and she astounds me with her passion for teaching. What a varied bunch of women we are – I thoroughly enjoy the camaraderie that emanates from my first meeting.

Much excitement is generated when Teresa May and other shadow cabinet members arrive as well as a film crew filming us for the BBC’s Politics programme. I grab myself a glass of chablis from the bar – £11.00 – shock horror – but then a kind Women2Win helper changes it for a glass of house wine and canapés, all courtesy of Women2Win.

I find myself on camera, a glass of wine in my hand, being interviewed for my views on the Conservative party; an experience I surprisingly enjoy…

Another meeting and this time on the top floor of the City Inn Hotel with panoramic views across London… Oliver Letwin is the guest speaker who makes us laugh with his anecdotes, Sandra Howard is in the background looking beautiful and answering questions gracefully. This time Channel 4 is filming and interviewing us, I manage to talk for three minutes non-stop about why I am supporting the Conservative party.

Fast forward to another evening – I attend an Introduction to Politics meeting where the panel consists of, amongst others, Bernard Jenkins MP and his lovely wife Anne, and Margot James, a successful and charming business woman. They are excellent speakers and encourage us to put our names forward for the candidates list.

We have to introduce ourselves, which I confess I find nerve-racking. My heart is beating furiously and my voice gets embarrassing squeaky. I say I feel passionate about the need for non-medical staff to have structured career paths to progress within the NHS. I say I had previously voted Liberal Democrats and Labour, and that I work in the NHS and am a member of Unison. Women nod and look interested. I wonder with my credentials whether I am the type of person the Conservatives want. I needn’t worry because I find myself welcomed with open arms and am told again and again: Conservatives want women like me to get involved.

At a fund raising evening at Sir Paul and Lady Judge’s amazing apartment overlooking the Thames, the wine and canapés are first class and David Cameron is the guest speaker – very impressive he is too.

I look through the wrap-around-windows and am mesmerised by the gorgeous views over London. I look in the direction of North London and think of Finchley, my childhood home, the place where I grew up with Margaret Thatcher as my MP. I feel as if I have come full circle.

Again, women are encouraged to network and some of the faces are now becoming familiar. That dreaded feeling of going alone to a function has subsided. Many women I speak to are quietly considering applying for the candidates list and choosing to become politically involved with their local constituencies.

It all started with a random email and now I have met so many interesting women who care deeply about politics, want to make a difference and feel inspired by David Cameron. These meeting are held monthly, are stimulating and fun and there is no pressure to participate in anything unless you wish to – so, please, why not give it a try?