Following a pivotal year for UK politics in 2024, many are hoping for a year of meaningful policy action in 2025. For International Women’s Day this year, we are highlighting the women in Parliament who are leading the charge and implementing change, whether it be furthering the Women in Finance agenda, delivering the Government’s AI and digital reform, or ensuring the UK can build the homes and infrastructure it needs.

Emma Reynolds MP (Labour)

Since her re-election to Parliament in July 2024, Emma Reynolds has been a constant presence within Treasury decision-making and, as anticipated in Lansons’ Rising Stars document last year, has seen rapid progression through the ranks.

Initially appointed to the dual roles of Parliamentary Secretary within HM Treasury and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions, Emma became Economic Secretary to the Treasury in January 2025. In her new role, she is responsible for the considerable portfolio of Financial Services policy, reform and regulation – and, as one of the eight priority sectors within the Government’s soon-to-be-published Industrial Strategy, this is a fundamental lever in the Government’s ambition for growth. Additionally, unlike some of her predecessors, she has the advantage of understanding the nuances of engaging with government stakeholders from the side of business, having previously served as Managing Director of Public Affairs, Policy & Research at TheCityUK.

Of most relevance to International Women’s Day, however, is Emma’s responsibility for policy on Women in Finance and supporting the Chancellor on the Women in the Economy agenda. Alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Investment Minister Baroness Gustafsson, Reynolds is breaking down barriers for women within a historically male-dominated space.

Emma Reynolds was identified as a Lansons 'Rising Star' in the lead up to the 2024 General Election. See the full list here.

Heidi Alexander MP (Labour)

Another of Labour’s fresh 2024 intake who has previous Parliamentary time under her belt – and has experienced a swift progression within her respective department – is Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander.

Her sudden promotion in November 2024 owes to her vast amount of experience in the transport sector; after stepping down as MP for Lewisham East in 2018, Alexander joined Sadiq Khan as Deputy Mayor of London for Transport and Chair of Transport for London, where she oversaw projects including the construction of the Elizabeth Line, Government bailouts to maintain London transport during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as leading several rounds of government negotiations on pay.

However, the emphasis placed on new transport infrastructure as a central part of the Government’s growth agenda has seen Heidi launched into the middle of the very public discussion around the benefits of airport expansion, and she ultimately holds sway over the approval of expansion plans at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton, among others vying for future investment and growth. Equally challenging will be the task of delivering the rail renationalisation project and associated Great British Railways – and as the Chancellor continues to tout the need for connectivity and infrastructure investment across the UK, Heidi will be responsible for making decisions at the very heart of the Government’s hopes for success.

Heidi Alexander was identified as a Lansons 'Rising Star' in the lead up to the 2024 General Election. See the full list here.

Kim Leadbeater MP (Labour)

Although its contents has divided the public and Parliament, Kim Leadbeater’s Private Member’s Bill on assisted dying – officially the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – has made her one of Labour’s most prominent MPs on the media circuit and one of the most influential and recognisable legislators in the House of Commons.

While still processing through Committee stage in the lower chamber, the Bill has the potential to be a transformative piece of legislation, described by Kim as the “strongest in the world, creating new protections and safety measures for dying people, and strengthening end-of-life care as a whole.” The interest generated by the Bill is uncommon for a Private Member’s Bill – which are put forward by backbench MPs, rather than the Government, and rarely become law – and is testament to Kim’s personal commitment to the cause.

Beyond legislation, Kim has been a vocal proponent of the need to improve MP’s safety – following the murder of her sister, former MP Jo Cox, Leadbeater helped found the Jo Cox Foundation and was elected to her sister’s Parliamentary seat in 2021. As part of her activism, she has campaigned relentlessly for the safety of MPs to be taken more seriously. In 2018, Leadbeater was awarded the UK's one thousandth Points of Light award by Prime Minister Theresa May for having "rejected the hate that marked [her] sister's murder to continue Jo's work and ensure that Jo's determination to change the world has lived on."

Dame Meg Hillier MP (Labour)

Having first been elected to Parliament just under 20 years ago, and serving in a number of Government and Opposition ministerial posts, Dame Meg Hillier has long been a mainstay of Labour politics. However, her new role as Chair of the Treasury Committee, as well as Chair of the Liaison Committee, means she now wields significant influence over the Government’s accountability in one of the UK’s most important sectors.

Elected unopposed as Chair of the Treasury Committee, one of the most highly sought-after and influential non-ministerial roles in Parliament, Dame Meg is currently leading inquiries into some of the greatest challenges and opportunities faced by the FS industry and the UK economy more broadly – including integrating AI into banking, pensions and other financial services; the arguments for retaining the Lifetime ISA; as well as scrutinising the work of HM Treasury, the Financial Ombudsman Service, and the Payment Systems Regulator.

This places her at the heart of the Government’s work to deliver its promise of sustained economic growth through one of its primary growth-driving sectors, and in ensuring leaders across HMT, the Bank of England and other institutions are – in her own words – “managing the public finances in the best interests of the British public.” Against the current economic backdrop, this is a challenge of huge importance and positions Dame Meg as one of a number of impressive women leading the charge on turning around the economy.

Wendy Morton MP (Conservative)

Shadow Foreign Office Minister, Wendy Morton, was first elected as the Conservative MP for Aldridge-Brownhills in 2015 and has become a leading voice in the ongoing discussions around the UK’s support for Ukraine – considerably heightened since US President Donald Trump’s fallout with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his subsequent withholding of military aid.

In response to the events which shocked leaders across Europe, Wendy called for “pragmatism” and “calm heads” in the UK’s approach to future peace deal negotiations. Over the course of the war, she has not been shy to call out Russian President Putin for “illegally invading Ukraine”, and made clear on the third anniversary of the outbreak of war that the UK “must remain resolute in holding Russia accountable, and our response must be unwavering, ensuring that we tackle all aspects of Russian aggression”.

Wendy has past experience of managing difficult relations with Russia, having been the first Government minister to travel to Moscow following the Salisbury poisoning in 2018, as a junior Foreign Office minister. Now, as the UK faces a critical challenge in resetting security relations with the EU and US, Wendy continues to wield significant influence as a female voice championing the UK’s role in defending Ukraine against Russia.

Yuan Yang MP (Labour)

As one of 2024’s new Labour MP intake – and another of Lansons’ Rising Stars – Yuan Yang has already established herself as a voice of authority on the UK economy and Financial Services sector. She has become a prominent member of the Treasury Committee since her appointment in October 2024, utilising her role to scrutinise the performance of HMT and the Bank of England.

In January this year, Yuan also served as a member of the Finance Bill Committee, tasked with scrutinising the Finance Bill 2024-25 – which included each of the 62 ‘ways and means resolutions’ set out by the Chancellor in her Autumn Budget to authorise tax and spend. This most prominently included changes to Capital Gains Tax and the introduction of VAT on private school fees, and Yuan took a leading role in advocating against tax incentives for accommodation to be turned into short-term furnished lets as opposed to long-term living places, in light of the UK’s housing crisis.

Yuan’s expertise on such matters is primarily thanks to her previous role as the Financial Times’ Europe-China Correspondent, covering economics and technology in particular. She is the author of the book ‘Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China’ published in May 2024, which explores womanhood and society in China, and is the founder of the education charity Rethinking Economics, supporting students in over one hundred universities around the world.

Yuan Yang was identified as a Lansons 'Rising Star' in the lead up to the 2024 General Election. See the full list here.

Florence Eshalomi MP (Labour)

Florence Eshalomi serves as Chair of Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, having first been elected to Parliament in 2019. Now – along with other prominent women in this list – she finds herself at the forefront of holding the Government accountable for some of its primary policy pledges.

First among these is the promise of planning and leasehold reform and the target of building 1.5million homes over the next Parliament. Florence has acknowledged that the UK is “in the middle of the housing crisis and the cost of land is one of the main reasons that house prices are rising so rapidly.” In order to contribute to a solution, the Committee opened an inquiry in January into how land value capture policies can play a role in funding affordable housing and public infrastructure, with Florence determined to “bring forward practical recommendations” for the public good.

Florence and the Committee’s work will also play a fundamental role in managing and mitigating the worsening local authority finance crisis – and again, are currently considering evidence as to how the local government finance system can be made fit for purpose. Finding a practical solution to this looming disaster will be crucial for ensuring the longevity of public services, and Florence’s former experience as a councillor herself places her as one of the most influential voices in the debate.

And finally, Florence will be spearheading the Committee’s evidence sessions into Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, and has called on the Government to address the issue of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for disabled people. The Committee will be examining the detail of the Government’s plans later this year. 

Feryal Clark MP (Labour)

Feryal Clark was first elected as the Labour MP for Enfield North in 2019, and currently serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary for AI and Digital Government within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

As part of her role, Feryal is responsible for the formidable task of developing the Government’s position and policy on AI transparency, ethics, regulation and opportunities, including the establishment of the AI Security Institute. Ministers across Government have been unequivocal about their ambition for AI to revolutionise the UK’s public services and economic outlook. However, getting the balance right between regulation and innovation is one of the greatest challenges currently facing policymakers around the world – and one with the largest stakes at play.

In order to do so, Feryal has been leading the charge on delivering the AI Opportunities Action Plan, which includes provision for AI growth zones and the digital infrastructure needed to help secure the UK’s position as a global leader. As well as contributing to the Data Bill currently progressing through Parliament and the ongoing discussions around AI copyright laws, Feryal is one of the most influential players in this hugely exciting and complex space.

Caroline Dinenage MP (Conservative)

Dame Caroline Dinenage concludes our list, and is another Select Committee Chair we’re spotlighting for International Women’s Day this year – this time, of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

Her continuing influence in this space comes at a critical time for the UK’s creative industries, which have been identified by the Government as one of the 8 growth-driving sectors forming the basis of the Industrial Strategy. However, while welcoming the Government’s commitment to invest in the industry and the launch of the Soft Power Council to export the UK’s influence across the world, she warned Government that it needs to “walk the walk” if they are to harness the “global super power” of the creative industries.

Dame Caroline will also have a role to play in discussions around the future of the BBC – both holding the Government to account on coming to a fair funding agreement ahead of the Charter renewal in 2027, and, as evidenced in a well-timed session with the BBC’s Director General and Chair just this week, ensuring the BBC remains committed to delivering high-quality, impartial news that sets a global standard at a time of international instability and increasing disinformation. As such, her influence will necessarily reach beyond DCMS and continue to collaborate with the FCDO and International Development Committees, to ensure Britain’s standing on the world stage remains strong.

First published in Political Capital - our weekly public affairs and polling news drop

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