Chair of EMLD Appointed to Government Taskforce

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th May 2008

Monday 19th May 2008

HARMAN ANNOUNCES TASKFORCE TO INCREASE

BLACK ASIAN AND MINORITY ETHNIC WOMEN COUNCILLORS

Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, launched a new taskforce to help more black, Asian and minority ethnic women to become councillors, and so make councils more representative of the community.

The taskforce will be chaired by Baroness Uddin, the first Muslim woman in the House of Lords and a prominent figure in the black and Asian community. Members will include councillors from across Britain, from all ethnicities and political parties.

Cllr Meral Ece, Chair of the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats, was one of the first councillors to be appointed.

Only around 168 out of 20,000 councillors are black, Asian or minority ethnic women. This is less than one per cent, despite the fact they make up more than 5% of the population. To be fully representative this needs to increase more than five fold to around 1000 minority ethnic women councillors. At the current rate of increase this could take more than 130 years.

The taskforce will take practical action to address this under-representation, such as provide mentoring, hold outreach events in community centres to make the role of councillors more widely known and better understood, working with organisations such as the Local Government Association, Operation Black Vote and the Fawcett Society to develop awareness training, establish networking groups, conduct research, work with local councils, political parties and organisations like IdeA to improve the recruitment, training and selection and support given to candidates as well as working with others producing guidance and advice

Harriet Harman said:

"Empowering black, Asian and minority ethnic women in public life is a key priority for Government. They are a force for good within their communities, and in building bridges between communities. Their contribution must be better recognised and supported.

"And we need our local councils to better reflect the local community.

"It's not just about people's right to be a councillor, it's about making local government better, making decision making better, more understanding of communities that services are being provided for. You have better informed decision making if you have all members of the community represented.

"But it's important not just to have Black and Asian councillors, but also to support them, because it's more difficult if you are a pioneer, in a minority. So we have to recognise it's not just about getting them in, but to make sure that our Black and Asian women councillors have the proper support and we recognise their role as pioneers in taking this forward."

Baroness Uddin, Chair of the new Councillors Taskforce, said:

"I'm delighted to have been asked to chair this new taskforce, local government is an important route to strengthening and shaping all our lives. I hope in the coming year ahead we will be able to work with women across all the communities by encouraging and inspiring their participation. Our ambition is simple in that we wish to see an increased numbers of women councillors, and I am glad to have the full backing of the government in order to achieve this ambition".

Cllr Meral Ece, commented:

"I'm very pleased to be appointed to the TaskForce for this important area of work. I am committed to ensuring that local councils are more representative, where important decisions are taken that affect all our lives"

Simon Woolley, Executive Advisor to the Taskforce and Director of OBV, said:

"There is no shortage of talented black and minority ethnic women who, given half a chance, would make excellent councillors and MPs. The challenge, therefore, is to break down barriers whilst encouraging these talented women to come forward. OBV is pleased to be part of this exciting initiative."

The taskforce will last 12 months, with an option to review and take account of some of the recommendations of the independent Councillors Commission (published last December). The taskforce will identify action to increase awareness and build confidence and skills; reach out into communities to encourage women to step forward to become local councillors; identify and tackle barriers within political parties; and reduce disadvantage and stereotyping from within and outside the communities.

The Government Equalities Office has worked closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the work of the Councillors Commission, which looked at the incentives and barriers to standing as councillors, and included increasing the representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic women, as well as other under represented groups - women, men from BAME communities, and people of working age.

Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, will be responding to the Councillors' Commission report in the summer. She said: "Democracy at its best should be a reflection of the people it serves and the proportion of councillors from ethnic minority backgrounds represents only half the number of BME people in this country. It is vitally important that British citizens of whatever background feel that they are represented in democracy and I welcome the work that this taskforce will do to ensure that everyone can have the opportunity to contribute to politics and have their voices heard."

Ms Harman announced in July last year that empowering Black, Asian and minority ethnic women was one of the Minister for Women's priorities. The other two are: supporting families, particularly as they bring up children and care for older and disabled relatives; and tackling violence against women and improving the way we deal with women who commit crimes.

Media enquiries

For further information and to bid for interviews please contact Victoria Francis on 0207 276 0996 / 07920 213832 Victoria.francis@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

Notes for editors

· The Taskforce's Terms of Reference and Written Ministerial Statement are available on request from Victoria Francis or on www.equalities.gov.uk

· The number of BAME women councillors increased from 0.6% in 1997 to 0.9% in 2006, meaning it could take more than 130 years for councils to reflect society.

· A fact-sheet on BAME women councillors, women in public life, ethnic minority women in the UK and a chronology of key dates in politics are also available on request or on www.equalities.gov.uk

· This year marks two important dates for women's suffrage. The 90th anniversary of women over 30 getting the right to vote and the 80th anniversary of women getting the vote aged 21 on a par with men.

· The Councillors Commission published its recommendations in their report 'Representing the future' on 10 December 2007. It was set up by the Department for Communities and Local Government as an independent review to look at the incentives and barriers that encourage or deter people from standing for election as councillors, and to find practical ways to substantially increase the number of BAME women councillors. The Government is currently considering the Commission's report and will be publishing a response in the Empowerment White Paper in the Summer. The report can be viewed at: www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/583990

· Research published by the Government Equalities Office and Fawcett Society last October identified the top barriers which stop Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women becoming councillors as:

­ Being a councillor is still seen as a white male middle class hobby

­ Gate-keeping political parties: ethnic minority women get poor support and even discrimination from local political parties

­ Lack of recognition: the skills and experience of black and Asian women are often ignored

­ The hard work of bringing up a family and making a living: Women have most of the work to do at home, caring for children and elderly relatives, going to work and have the least of the money available.

· The Fawcett research report 'Routes to Power' is also published today