Women in Westminster: The 100 is an annual celebration recognising the outstanding achievements of women and the vital role they play in shaping public life. Each year, we highlight one hundred individuals who are making a significant and lasting impact across the Westminster landscape.

Our Board of Patrons carefully review a wide range of nominations to select the final list. The 100 includes parliamentarians, journalists, civil servants, campaigners, think tankers, public affairs professionals, and many others influencing UK politics and public service.

These women have not only excelled in their roles – they have led the way. The 100 celebrates those who are driving change, shaping the future, and inspiring those around them.

Women in Westminster: The 100 is organised by The House magazine, which is owned by Total Politics. Women in Westminster: The 100 is supported by Lloyds Banking Group.

The selection process for Women in Westminster: The 100 begins with a public nomination stage. Over a six-week period between September and November, we invite nominations from the public via the Women in Westminster: The 100 website. The nomination window is promoted through The House magazine, Civil Service World, and our social media channels – including @TotalPolitics, @TheHouseMag, @politicshome, @CSWnews on X, and @womeninwestminster on Instagram – as well as through direct email communications to our marketing lists.

Once nominations close, the Women in Westminster: The 100 team conducts an initial review to ensure each submission meets the campaign’s criteria. As supporters of the initiative, colleagues from Lloyds Banking Group may view the nominations, but they have no influence over the selection process.

The reviewed nominations – alongside additional recommendations from our Patrons and suggestions from the previous year’s Women in Westminster: The 100 list – are then submitted to our Board of Patrons, who make the final selection of the one hundred individuals.

Our Board of Patrons brings together individuals with cross-party political experience from both Houses of Parliament, alongside professionals with expertise in Whitehall, political journalism, and public affairs.

You can view the current board here.

In selecting the final one hundred, our Board of Patrons will place particular emphasis on an individual’s influence and their ability to inspire others. The Board will consider individuals who have demonstrated at least one of the following:

• Launching a high-impact campaign or contributing meaningfully to the passing of significant legislation.
• Making an innovative, distinctive or unconventional impact within Westminster or Whitehall.
• Acting as a visible and effective role model for others.
• Delivering an unsung but significant contribution to the culture of Westminster or Whitehall.
• Shifting public opinion or reframing important national debates.

Nominations for Women in Westminster: The 100 2026 should highlight and reflect achievements made between November 2024 and November 2025.

Nominees do not need to be based in Westminster, but their work must have a demonstrable impact on Westminster and/or Whitehall.

We welcome nominations that reflect the criteria set out in the Equality Act 2010. You can read more about this here.

Please note that:

• Being featured in previous editions of Women in Westminster: The 100 does not guarantee selection in future years.
• Members of our Board of Patrons are not eligible for inclusion due to their direct involvement in the selection process.
• We acknowledge that some individuals chosen may generate debate or divide opinion; however, this does not detract from their qualification under the stated criteria.

The decision of our Board of Patrons is final, and no further correspondence will be entered into.

Nominations for 2026 will open on 25 September 2025 and close at midnight on 7 November 2025. All submissions must be made via the nomination portal, which will be published once nominations are open.

There are countless talented women contributing to Westminster who too often go unrecognised. We invite the public to nominate any woman who has made a significant and lasting impact across the Westminster landscape.

Nominations should highlight individuals who have gone above and beyond in their roles – not only demonstrating excellence but also leading the way in politics and public service. These are women who are driving change, shaping the future, and inspiring those around them.

Please ensure your nomination focuses on the nominee’s achievements during the period from November 2024 to November 2025.

Women selected for Women in Westminster: The 100 may include – but are not limited to – parliamentarians, journalists, civil servants, campaigners, think tankers, and public affairs professionals.

How to Nominate

Public nominations must be submitted through our online nomination portal.

You will be asked to provide your contact details and complete three short questions:

Q1: Why are you nominating this individual for Women in Westminster: The 100?
Please describe what they have achieved during the period from November 2024 to November 2025 that has been influential and/or inspiring, and how it has had a significant impact on politics or public life. (Maximum 250 words)

Q2: How would you describe your nominee in one sentence? (Maximum 100 words)

Q3: If applicable, please provide supporting materials via weblinks (e.g. articles, videos, or social media posts) that strengthen your nomination.

Tips for Writing Your Nomination

• Save a draft: We recommend writing your answers in a separate document before submitting them via the portal.
• Refer to the criteria: Make sure your nomination clearly reflects how the nominee meets the Women in Westminster: The 100 criteria.
• Stay concise and accurate: Keep responses clear, focused and within the word limits. Only include publicly shareable information, quotes, or statistics.
• Keep it respectful: Avoid defamatory, denigrating, or abusive language.

Please note: If your nominee is selected, parts of your nomination may be used (anonymously) in creating their published profile.

Nominations for 2026 will open on 25 September 2025 and close at midnight on 7 November 2025.

It is free of charge to submit a nomination for Women in Westminster: The 100.

Nominees may be nominated by someone else or may nominate themselves, as long as they meet the Women in Westminster: The 100 criteria.

Nominees do not need to be based in Westminster, but their work must have a demonstrable impact on Westminster and/or Whitehall.

You are not required to inform the person you are nominating; however, we encourage you to do so at your discretion.

An individual only needs to be nominated once to be considered by our Patrons, and the number of nominations received does not influence the final selection. However, multiple nominations that provide additional, relevant insight or evidence of a nominee’s impact may help to strengthen their overall case.

We ask all nominators to submit their entries using the online nomination form, which ensures consistency in the format. The form includes an option to provide relevant web links such as articles, videos, or social media posts to support your nomination.

Once you submit your nomination, you will receive an automatic confirmation email. If you do not receive this email, please first check your junk or spam folder. If it is not there, contact us, as your nomination may not have been successfully submitted and therefore cannot be considered.

Due to the volume of submissions, we are unable to confirm the status of individual nominations ahead of the publication of Women in Westminster: The 100.

All individuals selected for Women in Westminster: The 100 will be notified by email prior to the list being publicly announced.

The Women in Westminster: The 100 2026 list will be announced in March 2026.

It will be published on the Women in Westminster: The 100 website, featured in The House magazine, and shared across our X accounts (@TotalPolitics, @TheHouseMag, @politicshome, and @CSWnews), our Instgram account (@womeninwestminster), and via email to our marketing lists.

Follow us on social media to stay up to date with the inspirational and talented women making an impact across the world of Westminster. Be the first to know when nominations open and when the next Women in Westminster: The 100 list is revealed.

Instagram: @womeninwestminster

Threads: @womeninwestminster

TikTok: @womeninwestminster

X: @TheHouseMag

Website: www.womeninwestminster.co.uk

Why not discover more about some of The 100 through our series of In Conversation With interviews. You can read the interviews on our In Conversation With website.

You can delve into the earlier editions of Women in Westminster: The 100 through our online editions, which can be found below.

2025 Women in Westminster: The 100

2024 Women in Westminster: The 100

2023 Women in Westminster: The 100

2022 Women in Westminster: The 100

2021 Women in Westminster: The 100

2020 Women in Westminster: The 100

Should you need any further information, please contact the team on womeninwestminster@totalpolitics.com.