Female membership of Conservative Party almost halved in two decades amid claims joining up is no longer a 'social thing' to do

The proportion of female members of the Conservative Party has nearly halved in the last two decades, new research has found, amid claims that joining political parties is no longer a "social thing" to do.

The research, based on surveys of political party members conducted in the aftermath of the 2017 general election, highlighted the extent of gender imbalance in the Conservative Party.

It revealed that 29 per cent of the Tory rank and file are women - down from 49 per cent in 1994.

The research also suggested that the Conservatives are not well positioned to address the finding that fewer than one in three grassroots Tories is a woman.

Just five per cent of the party’s members are aged 18-24...