Is anyone else getting a bit bored with the SamCam vs. Sarah Brown stories at the moment?

Who has the best style, who has painted the more attractive picture of their husband, who is the better brand. They are intricately involved with their husbands political campaigns, and I am sure they are role models for many.

Yet the fact remains that less than 20% of MPs are women - shameful for a country which claims to have 'the mother of parliaments'. Britain does worse than Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates to name but a few.

Our voting system, the working hours within Westminster - 10pm voting is simply not practical for those with families, for men or women! - and the old boys clubs that seem to permeate politics in Britain all point to why we don't see the representative parliament that many would prefer.

It's interesting that the Conservatives, Labour and the LibDems are all putting their leader's wives on centre stage.

Research suggests that women react more favourably (and vote more) when they see the interaction of women in politics. In constituency seats contested by women, voting turnout is higher. So it's no surprise that the wives are being wheeled out as the election draws closer.

What we need is not WAGs, but more women in politics.

I'm proud to be the only female leader of a British political party, but I'm also saddened by it. Brighton Pavilion is one of the only seats where residents are guaranteed a woman as their next MP, which is wonderful - it's just sad that its taken until 2010 for this to happen.

Timely musings, as yesterday evening I took part in Women's Question Time at Westminster Central Hall, which was great - despite us all getting a grilling from the audience! There must have been over a thousand women there, and I really enjoyed the debate.