According to statistics that show the gender gaps in local government, men control the vast majority (95%) of local authorities throughout Britain, whereas little over a third of local councillors are women.
Only 18 of the 382 councils examined, according to research done by the Fawcett Society and Democracy Club in advance of the May local elections, had the required level of gender representation.
The data also demonstrates that no regional council has gender parity, with London having the largest percentage of female employees (45%) and Northern Ireland having the lowest percentage (26%).
Labour has the highest proportion of women local councillors at 47%, followed by Green and Scottish National Parties at 43% and 41%, respectively.The Conservative party has the lowest proportion of women local councillors at 29%, followed by the SDLP and DUP at 29% and 21%, respectively. The Ulster Unionist Parties have the lowest proportion of women local councillors at 20%.
Earlier Fawcett research found that sexism and harassment are pervasive throughout local councils, which can partially explain why there are so few women in local government.
Earlier research has also shown a lack of support for those with caring responsibilities, as only a quarter of local councils offer formal parental leave policies.
Women in Politics
The lack of women in local politics is a recurring issue. In 2021, data revealed that only one-third of the candidates in the English council elections were women, raising concerns.
Jemima Olchawski, the chief executive of the Fawcett Society, stated that decisions made at the local level significantly affect women, as they are more likely to rely on services provided by councils, such as social care and social housing. Yet progress on women’s representation in local government is moving at a snail’s pace.
“That such a vast majority of local councils are male-dominated diminishes public life. Government, local authorities and political parties need to take action and record diversity data, set targets for women’s representation alongside other protected characteristics, and make being a local councillor more accessible to those with caring responsibilities.”
Frances Scott, the director of 50:50 Parliament, said the report demonstrated that democratic systems in Britain were “inaccessible or unattractive to most people”.