This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35752605

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
EU referendum campaign 'quite male dominated', says minister EU referendum campaign 'quite male dominated', says minister
(about 2 hours later)
The debate on the UK's future in the EU ahead of the upcoming in-out referendum has been "quite male dominated", energy minister Andrea Leadsom has said.The debate on the UK's future in the EU ahead of the upcoming in-out referendum has been "quite male dominated", energy minister Andrea Leadsom has said.
Mrs Leadsom, who is campaigning for an EU exit, said women did not want to hear the views of only men.Mrs Leadsom, who is campaigning for an EU exit, said women did not want to hear the views of only men.
She was speaking ahead of the launch of pro-exit Women for Britain, which aims to engage women in the referendum. Meanwhile, employment minister Priti Patel likened the Leave campaign to the suffragettes' battle for voting rights.
In a speech, employment minister Priti Patel will liken the leave campaign to the suffragettes' battle. She was speaking at the pro-exit Women for Britain launch, which aims to encourage women to vote in the poll.
The campaign group, which includes other female political figures and women from the world of business, will say that the power of women's vote is undermined by being in the EU. The campaign group, which includes other female political figures and women from the world of business, says that the power of women's vote is undermined by being in the EU.
The equivalent group trying to target women voters on the Remain side is Women In, which says the benefits of being in the EU "clearly outweigh the costs" and that leaving would "take risks" with the UK's future.The equivalent group trying to target women voters on the Remain side is Women In, which says the benefits of being in the EU "clearly outweigh the costs" and that leaving would "take risks" with the UK's future.
In a video from the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign group, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: "From safeguarding parental leave to tackling discrimination in the workplace and bringing an end to violence against women and girls, our EU membership is critical in helping protect and further the rights of women around Britain. A vote to leave would put all of this at risk."In a video from the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign group, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: "From safeguarding parental leave to tackling discrimination in the workplace and bringing an end to violence against women and girls, our EU membership is critical in helping protect and further the rights of women around Britain. A vote to leave would put all of this at risk."
Mrs Leadsom told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The point about launching Women for Britain reflects the fact that women are often interested in hearing all views and not just the views of men.Mrs Leadsom told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The point about launching Women for Britain reflects the fact that women are often interested in hearing all views and not just the views of men.
"I think it has been quite male dominated," she said, adding: "It's important that everybody gets to hear female views of what's important.""I think it has been quite male dominated," she said, adding: "It's important that everybody gets to hear female views of what's important."
'Surrendered sovereignty''Surrendered sovereignty'
She said women cared about issues such as the cost of living, the cost of the UK's EU membership and future prospects for themselves and their children - and argued that life outside the EU for "many people", including women, would be "much better".She said women cared about issues such as the cost of living, the cost of the UK's EU membership and future prospects for themselves and their children - and argued that life outside the EU for "many people", including women, would be "much better".
The energy minister said the UK had surrendered its sovereignty to the EU, saying 60% of UK laws and regulations were made in Brussels.The energy minister said the UK had surrendered its sovereignty to the EU, saying 60% of UK laws and regulations were made in Brussels.
Moreover, 60% of the UK's workforce was employed by small and medium sized business which were all subject to "expensive" EU regulations, she told Today.Moreover, 60% of the UK's workforce was employed by small and medium sized business which were all subject to "expensive" EU regulations, she told Today.
"So yes, we have surrendered our democratic sovereignty to the European Union.""So yes, we have surrendered our democratic sovereignty to the European Union."
Ms Leadsom insisted women's rights and opportunities would not diminish outside the EU, if the UK voted to leave the bloc.Ms Leadsom insisted women's rights and opportunities would not diminish outside the EU, if the UK voted to leave the bloc.
She said Britain had a "very good record" in this area, noting that it had "unilaterally" introduced shared parental leave. It was also a world leader in efforts to ensure equal pay for women, she said.She said Britain had a "very good record" in this area, noting that it had "unilaterally" introduced shared parental leave. It was also a world leader in efforts to ensure equal pay for women, she said.
"So it's absolutely not the case that the rights of women or equal opportunities would diminish in the UK if it left the EU," she added."So it's absolutely not the case that the rights of women or equal opportunities would diminish in the UK if it left the EU," she added.
In her speech later, Ms Patel will say the UK does not need the EU to protect women's rights and that claims otherwise were "misleading". In her speech at the Women for Britain campaign launch, Ms Patel said the UK did not need the EU to protect women's rights and that claims otherwise were "misleading".
She will say the campaign to leave the EU is like the suffragettes' fight for the right of women to vote, arguing that an EU exit would "enhance our democracy and empower women in this country". She said the campaign to leave the EU was like the suffragettes' fight for the right of women to vote, arguing that an EU exit would "enhance our democracy and empower women in this country".
"In many ways, Women for Britain are fighting for the same cause. The suffragettes fought for our democratic freedom. Now we are the ones who must fight to protect it," she will say - warning that remaining in the EU holds women back. "In many ways, Women for Britain are fighting for the same cause. The suffragettes fought for our democratic freedom. Now we are the ones who must fight to protect it," she said - and warned that remaining in the EU would hold women back.