Apprentice Star Baroness Brady Urges Faster Progress on Gender Pay Gap
Conservative peer and television personality Baroness Karren Brady has issued a powerful call for accelerated action to eliminate the gender pay gap, which remained at 6.9% last year. Speaking during the House of Lords International Women's Day debate, the businesswoman and vice-chairwoman of West Ham FC highlighted how current workplace systems continue to penalise women.
The Stark Statistics Behind the Pay Disparity
According to the latest Office for National Statistics data from April 2025, the gender pay gap among full-time employees stands at 6.9%. This translates to women's median hourly earnings of £18.87 compared to £20.27 for men. More alarmingly, Trades Union Congress analysis reveals the gap widens dramatically to 19.7% for women aged 50-59.
"This means women my age work the equivalent of 72 days a year for free," declared the 56-year-old peer. "From the very start of this year until next Friday, March 13, we're effectively working for free."
Systemic Barriers and Career Penalties
Baroness Brady argued that the persistence of this earnings gap stems from workplace structures that reward uninterrupted career progression while disadvantaging those with care responsibilities. "We still operate systems that penalise women for caring for their children, for their families, for older family members," she told the Lords chamber.
The business leader warned that this disparity compounds over a lifetime, significantly contributing to the gender pension gap. She further criticised lingering cultural assumptions about leadership, noting that "when job titles and pay packets are decided, old biases queue up to decide who gets the corner office."
Personal Experience and Institutional Challenges
Reflecting on her own pioneering career as the youngest person to run a UK public company and first woman to manage a football club at age 23, Baroness Brady described frequently being "the only woman walking corridors." She observed that "being capable is not the same as being accepted" in environments designed for different demographics.
Cross-Party Calls for Family Support Reforms
Labour peer Baroness Frances O'Grady, former TUC general secretary, echoed the urgency for change while proposing specific policy solutions. She emphasised that bolstered support for young families could "turbocharge" efforts to close the earnings gap.
"I want young dads to know that as a society, we are on their side too," stated Baroness O'Grady, criticising the current "paltry two weeks paid paternity leave." She advocated for proper paid time allowing fathers to bond with babies and support partners.
The TUC calculates that at current progress rates, eliminating the gender pay gap would require another three decades. Baroness O'Grady argued this timeline could be dramatically shortened through enhanced family support enabling more equal care sharing.
Government Response and Proposed Measures
Opening the debate, government minister Baroness Liz Lloyd acknowledged that "much more needs to be done to further women's rights and opportunities." She outlined several initiatives currently underway:
- Strengthening protections for pregnant women and new mothers in workplaces
- Improving the parental leave system through the Employment Rights Act
- Requiring employers to publish action plans alongside gender pay gap reports
- Making flexible working more accessible to support work-life balance
- Tackling violence against women and girls through education and prevention strategies
As International Women's Day approaches, the parliamentary discussion highlighted both the persistent challenges facing gender equality in the workplace and the growing political consensus that current progress remains insufficient. The call for accelerated action resonates across party lines, with particular emphasis on structural reforms addressing care responsibilities and workplace culture.
