Prime minister Gordon Brown marked International Women's Day 2008 by asking women's business leaders for advice on how to support the next generation of successful women.
The PM and his wife were joined for a lunch reception at Number 10 by a range of guests including Oxfam CEO Barbara Stocking, Sun editor Rebekah Wade and women's minister Harriet Harman.
Speaking at the event the PM said: "I do think it is remarkable to think that 100 years ago, almost exactly to the month, women were having to chain themselves outside the Houses of Commons and Downing Street to put the case for women's representation. It is 80 years since women had the vote on equal terms in Britain, but now I think the issue is how far more we can ensure that women have opportunity in all areas of life."
Mr Brown added that women at the event were being asked to "adopt and mentor" British teenagers and young girls to help them aspire to the kinds of success enjoyed by other women "determined to break through what is sometimes called the glass ceiling".
