Is the British political system a safe place for women?

Baroness Fookes, a tough cookie.

This is the question that was asked by a woman on Question Time last week following the claims about unwelcome attentions that were allegedly paid by Liberal Democrat, Lord Rennard. to women colleagues in the past.

On Broadcasting House this morning the same question was put to two women who have enjoyed long careers in the House of Commons and who are now both Life Peers, Janet Fookes and Helene Heyman.  Rather to the disappointment of the interviewer neither Baroness came up with any particularly lurid anecdotes.  They both made the point that if a woman is tough enough to succeed in politics then she should be able to ‘see off’ or ‘laugh off’ all but the most extreme unwanted attention.  Both then went on to say that they had both spent many years trying to encourage more women to become politicians.

  

This task had clearly proved somewhat difficult since the requirement to be ‘tough’ tends to put off many women who are interested in entering the world of politics.  The cause is not helped by high profile examples. For instance, the unsuccessful Conservative candidate at the Eastleigh by-election was mocked by some in the media and elsewhere for tears after the Count.  She was obviously disappointed but it apparently didn't do to show it.

In any event,  it is undoubtedly true that, for whatever reason, politics attracts fewer women than men, and this is the case in Local as in Central Government. 

At Babergh we only have 8 women out of 43 councillors, a percentage of just 18 and a half percent.  This is well below the national average.  The proportion of women councillors at the County Council is higher at almost 30 percent, or 22 female councillors out of 75.

Aspiring female councillors who are interested in Babergh need not be concerned.  The gentlemen Members appear to behave impeccably; a great improvement on the characters that I worked with in the City.   However, I was rather younger then!