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29 October 2007 - UK needs around 1,000 black, asian and ethnic minority women councillors

Being a councillor is still seen as a white, middle class hobby for men according to new research by the Government Office of Equality and the Fawcett Society.

Responding to the findings, Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equalities, has called for more ethnic minority women to take up roles in public life and wants the number of Black, Asian and ethnic minority women councillors to rise to around 1,000 to make councils fully representative and strengthen local democracy.

Currently, there are 19,689 councillors across England and only 168 of them are ethnic minority women, which is less than one per cent (0.9%) despite the fact that ethnic minority women make up 4.6 per cent of the UK population.

Speaking at a reception to mark Black History Month, Minister for Women and Equalities Harriet Harman said:

“Traditionally people have seen being a councillor as a white middle class hobby for men. The 2.3 million Black, Asian and ethnic minority women in the UK make a great contribution to our society and economy and we need them to be represented at every level of our democracy from magistrates and councillors in their local communities to MPs at Westminster.”

Interim findings from a report published today by the Fawcett Society and the Government Equalities Office to mark Black History Month reveal the top three barriers for Black, Asian and ethnic minority women to become councillors are:

  1. Being a councillor still looks like a white middle class hobby
    The councillor role continues to be treated as a pastime for those with spare time and money – rare gems for many Black, Asian and ethnic minority women.
  2. Gate-keeping political parties
    Local political parties’ commitment to diversity remains weak and ethnic minority women potential candidates face poor support and even discrimination from parties.
  3. Local parties are not bridging the distance to ethnic minority women

 

Most of the ethnic minority women councillors interviewed had become a councillor because somebody asked them. But not enough ethnic minority women are being asked.

This research will feed into the work of the Councillors Commission, being chaired by Dame Jane Roberts which will report to the Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and the new Women Take Part project which will examine how existing support for women in public life at a grass roots level can be improved. Harriet Harman recently commissioned Operation Black Vote to explore how all Black, Asian and ethnic minority shortlists could work for Westminster candidates. Operation Black Vote is due to produce its report by mid-November. 

Harriet Harman said:

“Black, Asian and ethnic minority women are a force for good within their communities and in building bridges between communities. Their contribution must be better recognised and supported. Our research today shows that major barriers clearly exist that prevent many of these women from stepping up, we must work together to break these down.”

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:

“There are those who talk about our councillors being  'pale, male and stale ' – I think that label is unfair but we do need to ensure all elected representatives, national and local, better reflect their communities. I know what an invaluable role councillors play in every aspect of our communities.

“But if we want to make sure that councils are truly representative so that every voice in every part of the community is being heard it is vital that we find new ways to encourage more black and ethnic minority women to take up these crucial posts. That is why we set up the Councillors Commission - that will report to me later this year and I am committed to finding practical ways that will help to make this happen.”

Senior Policy Officer at the Fawcett Society Zohra Moosa said:

“Ethnic minority women councillors appear to be swimming against the tide. They are motivated and keen to make a difference but councils have not yet modernised to accommodate them. What we need is for political parties and local councils to wake up to the needs of 21st century local governments by making use of all the talent that is available. In particular, they should focus on improving recruitment and training, and reviewing working hours and remuneration to ensure those aren’t a barrier to involvement.”

Despite the barriers they face, the research reveals how rewarding ethnic minority women find being a councillor can be. Camden Councillor Geethika Jayatilake gives her top five reasons to become a councillor:

  1. Becoming a councillor gives you the opportunity to genuinely make a difference to the community you live in.
  2. Being a councillor is a personally rewarding experience and gives you a deep sense of fulfilment – something you may not get from your day job.
  3. Serving on a council stretches and challenges you to work simultaneously on two levels – dealing with individual needs and concerns and balancing these with providing strong leadership for the entire community.
  4. As an ethnic minority women councillor you have the opportunity to ensure that councils reflect the diverse communities we live in. The more representative the council, the stronger, more relevant and more successful the policies will be for everyone.
  5. As a councillor you have the important role to play of sending a visible message to others who identify with you that the public arena is open to them too.

 

For media enquiries contact Victoria Hatchett 0203 267 5121 or Victoria Francis 0203 267 5137.

Notes for Editors

  1. Case studies and photographs of ethnic minority women London councillors are available on request from Victoria Hatchett on the above number.
  2. A factsheet on ethnic minority women in the UK and a chronology of key dates in politics are available on request from Victoria Hatchett.
  3. To mark Black History Month, on 29th October 2007 Ministers for Women and Equalities Harriet Harman and Barbara Follett will host an evening reception for around 150 ethnic minority women from across the UK with the aim of encouraging more to enter public life.
  4. On 17th July the Minister for Women and Equalities published her priorities for women. These included empowering black and minority ethnic women to build cohesion within their communities and act as a bridge between communities.
  5. The interim findings of a report published today by the Fawcett Society and the Government Equalities Office reveals that ethnic minority women still face too many barriers to getting involved in local government. For a copy of the findings contact Victoria Hatchett. The full report entitled ‘Routes to Power for Ethnic Minority Women’ will be published later in the year.

 

DWP Press Office: 0203 267 5144
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk

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