Yorkshire's Forward Ladies head south to Westminster

Wakefield MP Mary Creagh met a delegation of Yorkshire's leading business and professional women in the Houses of Parliament on Monday 12 September.

Forward Ladies, a business networking organisation for professional women, organised the trip as part of their call for the government to do more to help small businesses, and ensure better support for business from the banks.

Wakefield business leader Margaret Wood MBE, who runs Wakefield engineering company ICW(UK), addressed the parliamentary meeting and said: "I'm grateful to Mary for taking the time to come and meet the delegation. She has always been a huge supporter of women in business and I know she recognises the contribution of women to the local, regional, and national economy."

Mary said "I was delighted to meet with Margaret and listen to her thoughts about what the government should be doing to support women in business. At a time when the government's cuts are disproportionately affecting women, it was inspiring to meet so many successful business women from our region."