A STOCKTON MP last night called for more women to be involved in running the country.

Stockton South MP Dari Taylor said despite a higher proportion of women MPs, there was still a shortage of women at the highest levels of government.

She said: "It is absolutely imperative that more women are involved in government.

"We have seen a huge improvement in the representation of women both on the backbenches and in ministerial positions but this has not been translated into senior cabinet positions."

Ms Taylor met members of the Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick Women's Institute yesterday to discuss women in government, as well as her role as an MP.

She said politics could benefit from the influence of more women.

She said: "Women have direct experience of issues which affect women - looking after the elderly, the young and those with disabilities for example. This is beginning to be acknowledged in the issue of pensions but there are other issues which need to be taken up."