Gloria De Piero MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, commenting on the publication of the 2014 Cranfield Female FTSE report, said:

“We’re making decent progress towards the 25 per cent target, but what is disappointing is that so far it’s all coming from non-executive appointments, and when women represent 50 per cent of the population it’s a bit early to be celebrating.

“All the evidence shows that lack of diversity is not simply bad for equality, it also leads to poorer decision-making and company performance. That’s why, if sufficient progress isn’t made to increase the representation of women and ethnic minorities on boards, we will consider introducing more prescriptive measures, such as quotas.

“But there’s also a role for Government to play in setting the right example to business, and with just five women out of 33 in the Cabinet and women only making up 20 per cent of Government Ministers, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have shut women’s voices out of their own top table.”​