There has been a focus on women and representation in public office recently as we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918 and head towards International Women’s Day on 8 March.
With that in mind, it seems right to remind people of the research the Fawcett Society published in July 2017, Does Local Government Work for Women.
This report reveals some uncomfortable truths about the representation of women in local government. Barely any progress has been made in the last two decades to increase their profile. Only one in three councillors in England are women; all six elected metro mayors are men; women make up 33% of council chief executives but 78% of the overall workforce. With a quarter of London councillors being female compared to an eighth elsewhere, I am pleased we are leading the way, but it isn’t enough. At this rate of progress, the Fawcett Society estimates it will take 48 years to reach gender parity in English county councils, let alone right across the local government sector.
It is self-evident there are cultural and structural barriers which must be removed for this to change. It cannot be right that given there are more women than men living in the UK, we are so poorly represented in a sector which takes decisions that impact on us all and spend billions of pounds every year without parity in the voices which are heard.
London Councils and the Local Government Association have done much to support women in the sector but individual councils and political parties are going to have to do more to change the current state of affairs.
Since I announced my intention to stand down as leader and local councillor in Haringey, I have been contacted by many women – council officers and councillors from across the political spectrum – who have empathised and spoken of how hard it is to progress and get to a place of leadership or seniority.
These aren’t people who are seeking a platform or are shouting about their problems, but women who are simply stating it is difficult. This isn’t a myth – it is real and we should all be doing more to create an environment where it is the norm for women to be in leadership roles, rather than the exception.
Cllr Claire Kober is chair of London Councils and leader of Haringey LBC
