Women's representation in local government ‘at a standstill’

New data from the Fawcett Society following May’s 2019 local government elections reveals that women make up just 35 per cent of councillors across England.

After 8,410 councillors were elected in the biggest local elections for four years, the women’s rights campaign charity found that there was a single percentage-point move toward gender equality, women remain outnumbered three-to-one on 12 per cent of councils and 96 per cent of councils remain male-dominated.

Additionally, the data from councils also found that, of those who responded: just 20 councils (eight per cent) have a maternity policy in place for their senior cabinet-level councillors; and only seven per cent of councils have a maternity policy in place that covered ordinary councillor roles.

Of the council seats that came up for election this year, women took a slightly higher proportion, at 35 per cent of councillors newly elected, up from 32 per cent the last time most of them were contested in 2015. The party which won the most seats, the Conservatives, had just 30 per cent women councillors. The Liberal Democrats, who saw a surge in their representation, had 34 per cent, while Labour had 45 per cent women councillors.

The ten worst councils for women’s representation in order in 2019 are: Craven; West Berkshire; Swale; East Sussex; Huntingdonshire; Isle of Wight; Hambleton; Gloucestershire; Castle Point, and Ashfield. In these councils, less than one in five councillors is a woman.

Sam Smethers, Fawcett Society chief executive, said: “Women’s representation in local government is at a standstill at just 35 per cent. This is fundamentally unacceptable and all parties must take action to change it. Local government has a disproportionate impact on women’s lives so it particularly needs to have women’s voices heard.

“It is shocking that in 2019 just twenty councils reported having maternity policies in place for councillors. There is no excuse for this inaction. The Local Government Association has introduced a toolkit for councils which includes the guidance and policies they need to make the change necessary. It is time for them to use it.”