'We rule the government, not the other way round'

This week, three Politics Show viewers turned reporter to look at the issue of women and the recession...

The Cherie Blair interview...

Liz Lane, Louise Brooke Smith and Denise Christie come from very different backgrounds.

But they joined forces to grill Cherie Blair, business leaders and Women's Rights experts to help draft their own Manifesto for change. You can read the transcript of their interview with Cherie Blair here...

Next week they will put it to the main political parties and interview Labour's Deputy Leader Harriet Harman live on air.

Here they recount their experiences so far.

Liz Lane

Change can happen, but it takes people like me, my friends and you out there to do it Liz Lane

I'd like to say that this last week has been like a whirlwind: it came, it was intense, then it was over before I knew it.

This week has given me insight into not only how diverse our country and people are but has made me look at myself as well.

I met Louise and Denise after arriving later than desired. We immediately had a connection. Although we have completely different backgrounds and experiences, as women we had a unique affinity.

I experienced nerves and apprehension but those went along with excitement that I had a chance to show BBC viewers who I am, what my particular issues are and the chance for people, even if it was just one, to listen to me and see if it can make a difference.

We went to the Institute of Directors and met Graham Leach, Chief Economist. It was extremely interesting, even though I felt leagues apart from the society it represents.

I could see that both sides of business, whether it be employer or employee, had many issues to raise. I believe that the recession affects all, but bridges have to be crossed and mutual grounds met.

Larger successful companies have the opportunity to lead the way towards a lot of the issues we, as women, raised.

On our final day we met Cherie Booth/Blair. I did have butterflies before we met, but very soon after our initial greeting, it was clear that she was extremely genuine and sincere.

I had already decided that I respected her for not only being successful, but being a mother and successful in her own right.

Cherie could be anyone, but I believe the press have done her a severe injustice in the past. She showed empathy with all our views and answered all of the questions we put to her with the similar passion we have.

Finally, we met Kathryn Rake from the Fawcett Society. The society itself stands up for many issues regarding women and those in situations that sometimes get overlooked by the government and our society itself.

Kathryn was extremely passionate and it was hard to disagree with anything she spoke to us about. This particular visit left me feeling more empowered, not only as an individual, but as a mother.

I'd like to say that taking part in this programme has made me look at many aspects of my life, how I can make a difference in my small way, and realise that I play an important role as an individual.

Today I feel like the world is still my oyster.

Change can happen, but it takes people like me, my friends and you out there to do it. Remember, we rule the government, not the other way round.

Well at least there's still hope of that isn't there?

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Video: Cherie Booth on equality

Louise Brooke-Smith

You never know we might be able to actually make a difference Louise Brooke-Smith

After a brief call for comments from anyone interested in how the recession was affecting women, I contacted the Show at the end of last year to raise two concerns.

These related to the dire situation the construction industry was in and that many companies - including my own - were having to make very difficult decisions.

I was concerned that Human Resources rules were not easy to follow and there were a number of urban myths about redundancy.

I was particularly concerned that the great strides women had made, particularly in the world of property would be disproportionately hit.

Little did I realise that an innocent email would lead to such an eye opening week and the opportunity to put my concerns to those who might make a difference, the politicians.

I met Denise and Liz in the Politics Show production office at the BBC and while we each come from very different backgrounds, different parts of the country and have different agendas, we hit it off immediately.

Call it a women's intuition but while we might have various political views and end goals, I think we will be able to reach a consensus over a 'Manifesto' to put to each of the political parties.

We had all done some homework and were all aware of the massive impact women have on our economy and that there is a need to still address inequality and stereotyping.

Sad to say that 40 years on from the Equality Acts, we are still talking about glass ceilings and pay gaps……but in the words of Bob Dylan, 'the times they are a-changing'.

While 20 years ago when I started, there were very few women in the world of property, we have come a fair way, relatively speaking.

Of course we can go further and more women should be encouraged to 'join the band' but at least we are moving forward.

Liz, Denise and I all agreed that the current recession shouldn't be used as a excuse to hold back on further improvements to the equality rules - to help both men and women.

For example, the training needs for Mums returning to the workplace or simply wanting to aim higher, require some serious overhaul.

If this means Government has to review some of its less successful policies and initiatives then so much the better. Better to admit you're wrong and do something about it than continue with flawed policies, foolishly.

While learning a lot, I do think that by meeting Liz and Denise and working on this programme together, I have been able to highlight the acute needs of small businesses.

Sometimes, when companies are simply trying to keep their heads above water, difficult decisions have to be made.

This can't be at the expense of 50% of the population, and we have to move away from a disproportionate impact on women.

Our 'Manifesto' is very much a working draft at the moment but by next week, when we meet the politicians, we will have confirmed our key issues and hopefully be in a position to put a few people on the spot... you never know we might be able to actually make a difference.

Denise Christie

She [Cherie Blair] is a well respected woman within a male dominated profession who values time with her family and stands up for the many inequalities women face Denise Christie

After a hectic Saturday nightshift at work, I came home on the Sunday, collapsed on the sofa, bacon roll in one hand, mug of tea in another and put on my weekly fix of "The Politics Show."

The previous week had been fairly full on and frustrating as I was attending the Women's Scottish Trades Union Conference debating resolutions that highlighted the many inequalities women in the workplace still face.

Many of the resolutions mirrored previous years and proved that we still haven't moved on, so when the presenter asked for women to email in their views and concerns regarding women's equality, it was like a red rag to a bull.

Three months later and here I am in London, the heart of politics, sitting opposite Cherie Booth asking her if she thinks the recession will hit women hardest.

Of course I know the answer to that but my views are not influential and do not change legislation where as views and opinions from Cherie may make certain people in prominent positions stand up and take notice.

Considering I have never interviewed anyone before (well unless you count a school band called The Sherryboes when I was 12) I was surprisingly relaxed.

This was probably because I was passionate about the subject matter. I knew the issues I wanted to concentrate on and I really wanted her to agree with me.

Was she going to be defensive, was she going to be honest, was she going to be sincere and most of all was she going to highlight my inexperience as an interviewer (if only I paid more attention in the "finding your voice" session at the Fire Brigade Union Women's School…).

These were the questions running through my mind and I felt a huge responsibility to utilise this once in a lifetime opportunity, not just for me but for the many women just like me that I wanted to do justice for.

What was reassuring was the fact that she wanted to do this interview as this was an area she was also passionate about.

What I then had to do was to try and get that passion out in a way that would support my campaign for good quality affordable childcare, improved paid maternity leave, compulsory pay audits to highlight gender pay gaps and to raise the status of equality reps within the trade union movement.

I found her to be very warming and at points very personal which surprised me. I expected more politician answers but what I felt I got was sincere answers.

She didn't come across as patronising and acknowledged on more than one occasion how lucky she was to be in the position she is in of not having financial burdens which has an impact on family life. She might regard herself as lucky; I would regard it as empowering.

After all she is a well respected woman within a male dominated profession who values time with her family and stands up for the many inequalities women face, not just in the workplace but in society in general and not just in the UK but throughout the world and that is something I admire as a trade unionist, as a feminist and most of all as a woman.