Who is Britain's Most Powerful Woman?


A first ever power list compiled by the BBC Radio 4 show Woman’s Hour voted her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, as Britain's most powerful woman. The runner-up is Home Secretary Theresa May.

Who is Britain's Most Powerful Woman?

The judging panel includes former newspaper editor Eve Pollard, politicians Priti Patel and Oona King, and crime novelist Val McDermid.

Ms Pollard said told Express: “Most women on our list have power because they have reached a place where they have control – of policy, of direction, of influence, of staff."

The panel included women with 'soft power' those with a transformative capacity to change how Britons think about themselves.

The purpose of the list was to show the inadequate number of women at the top of power fields like politics, corporations, the military and journalism.

Woman’s Hour editor Alice Feinstein commented that the radio show wanted to initiate a conversation on women and power. “We will use this list as a springboard to discuss the contribution all women make to society," Feinstein said "and ask why there isn’t greater diversity in the list.”

Panelists deemed Kate to be influential but not powerful, yet.

Many saw the ommision of Princess Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge as an oversight. Panelists deemed her to be influential but not powerful, yet.

Britain's top 10 women with power

1. Her Majesty The Queen
2. Rt Hon Theresa May MP (Home Secretary)
3. Ana Botin (CEO, Santander UK)
4. Baroness Brenda Hale of Richmond (Supreme Court Judge)
5. Elisabeth Murdoch (Chairman, Shine Group)
6. Professor Dame Sally Davies (Chief Medical Officer)
7. Justine Roberts & Carrie Longton (Co-founders, Mumsnet)
8. Lady Justice Hallett (Appeal Court Judge)
9. Angela Ahrendts (CEO, Burberry)
10. Dame Gail Rebuck (CEO, The Random House Group)

It would be an excellent exercise to find out who is the most power woman in the USA.