Working on Christmas Day, Changes to stalking laws

Stalkers could see the maximum jail sentences they face increase from five to ten years after peers passed a Policing and Crime Bill amendment last week. The move follows on from the government's recent introduction of new stalking prevention orders, offering more protection to victims of stalking than ever before. We hear from Catherine Skinner, CEO of the National Stalking Advocacy Service, Paladin, and Labour's Baroness Janet Royall.

This year, around 500,000 women will be working on Christmas day. Simone Williams, a palliative care nurse who featured in this year's Boots Christmas advert, and the Reverend Kate Bottley, the priest best known for her appearances on Channel 4's Gogglebox discuss.

Monday will bring confirmation from a vote in the House of Commons but in the meantime Philip Davies MP, has been elected unopposed by the Conservative Party to the Women and Equalities Select Committee. He joins Jane to discuss why he wanted to take on this role and what he hopes to contribute.

Writer Danielle Dutton has written a novel, Margaret the First, about another writer, Margaret Cavendish, the Duchess of Newcastle, who lived during the seventeenth century. Margaret published volumes of poetry and philosophy , she was the first woman to be invited to the Royal Society and was renowned for her eccentric style and unconventional behaviour. Of herself she wrote "I am as Ambitious as ever any of my Sex was, is, or can be; though I cannot be Henry the Fifth, or Charles the Second, yet I endeavour to be Margaret the First".

Do you enjoy the festive traditions of wearing sparkles, Christmas novelty jumpers, and green and red ensembles? Or, do you hate it? We discuss how to avoid the tyranny of Christmas dress codes with Kenya Hunt, Fashion Features Director at Elle UK and fashion writer, and En Brogue blogger, Hannah Rochell.

Presenter: Jane Garvey
Producer: Kirsty Starkey.