WOMEN AT WESTMINSTER .sx A trip to the House of Commons may be a good way to stimulate youthful political interest , but it might not encourage a young woman with ambitions of becoming the next Margaret Thatcher or Shirley Williams .sx Most of the women she would see inside the Palace of Westminster would be serving food to male , besuited Members of Parliament or typing their letters .sx It would be far better for a budding female politician to meet some of Britain's women MPs .sx They want more women to swell their ranks .sx They believe that more young women from all backgrounds could and should consider entering politics -and bring to the work of the House all the understanding and insight that their experience as women will have given them .sx More women MPs , they say , would mean that the women and the men of Britain would be better served by their government .sx But the women who have fought their way into Parliament do not underestimate the difficulties facing those who would like to join them .sx Such hopefuls will have to fight for time away from work and home responsibilities ; sit through fearsome constituency selection committees ; withstand sexist and trivialising media comments and , if they get into the House , deal with some chauvinist colleagues , and a work environment which largely caters for men .sx But those that succeed agree that it is worth all the effort .sx 'The most exclusive gentlemen's club in the country' still has only 43 women members .sx Amanda Seller asks six women MPs how to get a seat in the House of Commons .sx .sx EMMA NICHOLSON .sx Conservative MP for Torridge and West Devon since 1987 .sx EMMA NICHOLSON'S history belies claims that having the right connections helps a political career .sx Her family has had members in both the House of Lords and the Commons for many years - including her MP father - but she was still rejected by 27 selection committees before standing for one seat and then winning at Torridge .sx But she believes the effort was worth it :sx " Being an MP is very rewarding - although it's not easy in any respect .sx People come to you as a last resort about terrible things that are happening to them and very often you don't have the power to help - you just try .sx You need imagination , resourcefulness and the belief that what you are doing matters .sx Sometimes you make a difference to someone , and then it's absolutely wonderful .sx " .sx It is on the grounds of improving the quality of decision making that she would like to see more women MPs :sx " Women are the main consumers in society ; they go to the shops , the schools , the child clinics .sx They can say what's wrong with their services and say how they could be made better .sx More women in Parliament would mean better representation not only of women , but of everybody .sx A mixed team with a variety of skills and life experience makes the best team - and that's what we just haven't got at the moment .sx " .sx She does not think , however , that Parliament is so much anti-woman as anti-family :sx " The hours are dreadful .sx My father was an MP and I missed him terribly when I was a child .sx There's a very high divorce rate in the House of Commons - so you see the men suffer too but in a different way .sx " .sx The issue , predictably , that women MPs disagree most about is the effect on women of Margaret Thatcher's leadership .sx Emma Nicholson is very enthusiastic :sx " Of course Margaret Thatcher has made a huge difference .sx She has completely turned around the perception of whether women can perform politically at the highest level .sx Even women who don't concur with her politics should recognise that .sx " .sx Emma Nicholson wants young women to start thinking in political terms at a very early stage :sx " Get involved and keep at it .sx And always always sic !sx be honest about why you're interested in this way of life .sx If you want to feed your ego or be famous then that's OK , but admit it to yourself , because in politics you can't conceal your true personality or motives .sx Your soul gets stripped bare - remember that .sx ' .sx JO RICHARDSON .sx Labour MP for Barking , Essex since 1974 .sx " THERE ARE too few women in the Commons for the same reasons that are too few women in all position of power .sx Things are changing , but it's very slow .sx " .sx Like other women MPs , Jo Richardson believes that women have to find the time to do the hard local political work :sx " Politics is particularly problematic as a career because women often have to support themselves by working , meet their home responsibilities and then have this third life which is about proving your political credentials .sx It's unpaid , it's demanding and it's often thankless , but you have to do the dull , hard work .sx You can't just waltz into a selection committee and say 'Here I am' .sx " .sx She would like to see the Commons become more woman-friendly , but she thinks that women already there are achieving a great deal despite the difficulties :sx " Most men have some sort of support at home which makes a political career possible .sx Women often don't have that .sx And of course politics can be very expensive .sx Getting nominations , travelling a lot , canvassing .sx It would be untrue to say that anyone could afford it .sx " .sx Jo Richardson advises interested and motivated young women to join a local party :sx " Join a women's section , work hard , be yourself , but above all do it because you want to change things for the better , not because you want to be an MP .sx Women have to be involved to represent women , to present the feminist perspective .sx Then the country's women will be properly served by government .sx It may take a long while but we'll get there .sx " .sx MARION ROE .sx Conservative MP for Broxbourne , Herts since 1983 .sx MARION ROE is a rare kind of politician .sx While some women MPs have reluctantly foregone having children in order to enter politics , Marion Roe took the opposite approach .sx She stayed at home with her children until they were teenagers and then began - at the age of 39 and with no experience - her political career .sx " I'm not a feminist , but I do think you need to hear a balanced view of matters .sx Very often women in politics are without families and I wanted to represent all those ordinary women who have children like me .sx My friends thought I was raving mad when I told them what I wanted to do , but when I finally stood as an MP at Broxbourne I got one of the highest Conservative majorities in the country .sx " .sx This was after she had spent several years learning about politics as a councillor on the GLC :sx " It's important to get experience at that level as well , I think - and it's very important work .sx " She waves at Ken Livingstone as he passes us in the lobby .sx " I had some awful rows with Ken at the GLC - real cat and dog .sx But when I got here he was one of the first to shake my hand and say hello .sx That's one of the really good things about politics that people outside don't often understand .sx We can tear each other apart in debates , but we all support the way the system works - we're comrades .sx " .sx Marion Roe feels that any sort of woman can achieve in politics if she is determined enough :sx " Just get in there and don't get put down .sx If a selection committee turns you down and you think it's because you are a woman then just get back in there and try again .sx I actually think women are ideal as MPs - we're good listeners .sx Of course , this place has been male dominated for a long time - and it does feel very male clubby , but as more women come in it will change , gradually .sx " .sx Marion Roe prides herself on her 1985 Private Member's Bill which outlawed female circumcision :sx " Even if that's the only thing I ever achieve in Parliament I'd think all the battles and hard work were worth it .sx " .sx CLARE SHORT .sx Labour MP for Ladywood , Birmingham since 1983 .sx NO-ONE seems angrier than Clare Short about the male domination of the Commons , but she doesn't let it stop her doing her job :sx " There's so many silly things about the Commons .sx Of course there are rude men and rotten toilets , but you'll find silly rude men anywhere you go .sx Women deal with them and get on with their lives .sx It's like that here .sx " .sx Like many women MPs she wants to point out the things that are wrong with the system , but she doesn't want women to be put off politics :sx " It's a winner's situation now .sx The more women who join , the more human and attractive the place will become .sx And hopefully some of those silly traditions like the 'Honourable Gentlemens' sic !sx will disappear .sx Not that they get in the way of getting things done .sx You get the hang of them in a couple of weeks like starting any new job .sx " .sx Clare Short firmly believes that women should not see politics as a career like any other :sx " It's a bad thing to be eaten up by ambition in politics .sx You have to get involved because you care - because you want to change things .sx I certainly didn't start out to be an MP , I just ended up here .sx " .sx She believes that " the so-called womanly qualities - like listening and supporting - make for ideal MP's .sx Those are qualities that she feels Margaret Thatcher lacks :sx " I think it's an absolute tragedy that she was the first woman Prime Minister .sx She's done nothing for women and is so unwomanly , so uncaring .sx She's a role model for politics that young women shouldn't follow .sx ' .sx Clare Scott is very optimistic about today's generation of young women :sx " When I go round schools now the 14 and 15 year old girls are so advanced , so articulate .sx I think many of them could be joining us in 20 or even 10 years time .sx " .sx ANN WIDDICOMBE .sx Conservative MP for Maidstone , Kent since 1985 .sx ANN WIDDICOMBE thinks that women MPs who whinge about the behaviour of their male colleagues are doing themselves a grave disservice :sx " We should concentrate on being good MPs rather than just women MPs .sx We are here to represent all our constituents .sx " .sx This does not mean , however , that she thinks women are not discriminated against :sx " They have to go through the 'selectorate' -those awful committees that won't say 'We don't want a woman' , but will say 'This is an industrial area and you wouldn't understand the issues' .sx " .sx She argues that women are in fact an asset to any constituency during an election :sx " The media love women candidates - we're newsworthy - and research has shown that we never lose votes - and sometimes win a few more .sx " .sx She would like to see more women applicants for seats :sx " If you want to get into politics then get a track record .sx Join a political party , join in and fight some lousy seats .sx Then perhaps by the time your kids are grown or you've established a career you'll be ready to fight a safe seat - and you'll be an experienced and skilled member of society .sx " .sx Ann Widdicombe believes that one of the main reasons women don't put themselves forward for politics is lack of confidence :sx " MPs are ordinary people .sx I know women who could do this job extremely well but it would never occur to them .sx I'd like every woman to consider politics as an option .sx " .sx ANN CLWYD .sx Labour MP for Cynon Valley , Wales since 1987 .sx ANN CLWYD spent ten years trying to get selected for a seat :sx " The key is persistence .sx Get your foot in the door , get known .sx You have to believe in yourself , despite the difficulties .sx And it will be difficult .sx " .sx Ann Clwyd is one of the women MPs who think that Parliament has to change to meet women's requirements .sx She wants childcare provision for women who work at the Commons , and she wants the hours of work changed from the current 2.00pm through to 2.00am: " I was a Euro MP before I came here and God , what a difference !sx