Helen Grant MP

Iwelcomed the recent focus on the BBC’s gender pay gap, but the issue goes beyond on-screen media talent; a case-in-point being sport. This summer has witnessed an unprecedented level of English success in international women’s sport. Our cricket team won the World Cup in front of a full house at Lords (with Kent’s own Tammy Beaumont named player of the tournament); the Lionesses football team reached the semi-final of the Euro Championships and last weekend England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff was second in the Women’s British Open Golf Championship.

The women’s Rugby World Cup, with our own Red Roses reigning champions, is about to begin, but while the profile of women’s sport has never been higher, the rewards and coverage are on a different planet to those of their male counterparts; Chelsea bagged £38m for winning the Premier League this year compared with zero for the women’s super-league winners. Further, it is estimated women’s sport accounts for only 0.4% of all sports sponsorship and 7% of sports media coverage. Shameful.

Sponsorship and media are key to the change I have long campaigned for in developing sport participation in women and girls; If it’s on the telly, it inspires and motivates.

Tennis Grand Slams are one of the few sports where the prize money is equivalent for men and women; no coincidence then that eight of the