Labour women – reversing the decline and changing lives

Ann Henderson

IN RECENT WEEKS IT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED THAT THE LABOUR PARTY’S OWN GUIDELINES, IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SELECTION PROCESS, FOR ACHIEVING BETTER REPRESENTATION FOR WOMEN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ETHNIC MINORITIES WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED.

One report in the Herald suggested that women’s campaigners in the Party were now accepting that it was unachievable. Currently less than 22% of all local councillors are female, with a much lower figure in some areas. The 2003 COSLA survey of councillors recorded that only 19% of Labour councillors were women. Surely these figures tell us that action will have to be taken. 19% is not acceptable.

The Scottish Labour Women’s Network brings Labour women across Scotland together to campaign for representation for women at every level of government. We welcomed the steps taken by the Scottish Labour Party Executive to require local areas to put forward a wider range of candidates. 2007 gives us all the opportunity to change the face of local government in Scotland.

Women’s organisations across the labour and trade union movement led the way in campaigning for equality of representation in the new Scottish Parliament. Representatives from all parties have taken pride in the number of women serving in that Parliament. But this will not be maintained, without some sort of positive commitment and action, such as the decision taken by the Labour Party to twin constituencies in the selection process for the 1999 elections.

Let’s look at what is happening in Labour’s selections for the Scottish Parliament elections in 2007. Recently the Scottish Labour Party announced the rankings of Labour’s candidates for the eight regional list areas for the Scottish Parliament. The Party has used a ‘zipping’ mechanism, which places male and female candidates alternately once the first vote is counted. Seven of those eight lists for Labour are headed by a male candidate. What contribution will that make to maintaining a high proportion of women in the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group?

Women are active in their communities, workplaces and family lives, and to bring that experience into elected office should be regarded as a valuable contribution to our society. Tackling women’s under-representation, and that of ethnic minorities in Scotland, will mean greater community involvement in the political process.

Increased women’s representation in the Scottish Parliament has arguably changed the way in which some of the business is discussed, and has ensured that a wider range of women’s experiences has been brought to bear when scrutinising legislation, and engaging with wider society. The work on domestic abuse, and the wider agenda of tackling violence against women, has changed women’s lives. The national sexual health strategy, promotion and support for breastfeeding, discussions on women and the criminal justice system, the funding of the Scottish Women’s Convention, funding for capacity building at Engender, commitment to legislate against kerb-crawling, specific support for women starting up in business, civil partnerships, funding for the new edition of the Scottish Gender Audit currently in preparation, seminars and pilot work on gender budgeting, and learning what it means to mainstream equality through the work of the Parliament – these are some of the policies and programmes which address women’s concerns.

But Scottish Labour is not taking ownership of, and pride in, these issues. Indeed you will hardly find a mention in the new publication ‘Results – What Labour has done for you’. 283 gains and only two mention women – why don’t we talk about what Labour is delivering for, and with, women? The recent Fawcett Society poll at UK level shows Labour’s support amongst women is steadily falling – in Scotland at least let’s go into the next election with candidates who reflect the make up of our society, and let’s talk loudly about all the changes that have been made in women’s lives.

Even some of the policies which are introduced to benefit a whole group – such as free bus travel for senior citizens, and higher thresholds for personal costs when receiving care – will have a greater impact on women than on men. Women in elected positions can make a difference- but we need to speak about it – otherwise it will make the argument for increasing the number of women at local government level even harder. The phrase ‘Don’t take your eye off the ball ‘ comes to mind!

Ann Henderson and the Scottish Labour Women’s Network can be contacted on: annhenderson29a@blueyonder.co.uk