Maria Miller, a former Conservative cabinet minister, heads up the women and equalities committee. She said that the UK was failing to be a world leader in gender equality, and that the government’s verdict confirmed this.

“The government’s failure to accept any of the committee’s recommendations shows a complete lack of action and ambition to bring about real change,” she said.

Sophie Walker, the leader of the Women’s Equality Party, said that she was heavily disappointed with the government’s response. “By rejecting every one of the women and equalities committee’s recommendations, the government has let all women down and continues to stifle true democracy in which all voices are heard,” she said.

Walker agreed with May’s view that quotas are a short-term fix for increasing the number of women in parliament, but said that shortcuts are often necessary on the path to equality.

“They are a short-term solution to fix a long-term imbalance of power, and they are a stepping stone towards a political system that sees everyone, and is open to all,” she said.

“We will continue our challenge to the old politics of Westminster by mobilising our activists on our clear pathway to getting more women into politics.”

Images: Getty Images / Rex Features

Our male-majority government just rejected plans for getting more women into politics