Picture: Helen Grant, centre, with Dawn Harrison and Gail Hall of Kent law firm Whitehead Monckton.

by business editor Trevor Sturgess

A Kent MP has called for more women in business and politics.

Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, told guests in the House of Commons that only 14% of directorships at leading FTSE 100 companies were held by women. And only 22% of MPs were women.

Mrs Grant hosted the event to promote gender balance in boardrooms and Westminster. Guests included Dame Kelly Holmes, Kent's double Olympic gold medallist, Jo James, chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, and Gail Hall and Dawn Harrison from law firm Whitehead Monckton, with offices in Maidstone and Tenterden.

The event, sponsored by HSBC, was also attended by Business Minister Ed Davey who spoke about the Government's role in promoting greater gender balance.

Mrs Grant said: "Women currently represent just over 14% of board position in the FTSE 100 and there is still a long way to go, despite the economic case for gender balance being beyond doubt. The position in our Parliamentary parties is also improving but with only 22% of MPs being female there is much to do here too."