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Councils need more women - Blears | Councils need more women - Blears |
(30 minutes later) | |
The lack of women councillors across Britain is a "disgrace", Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has said. | The lack of women councillors across Britain is a "disgrace", Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has said. |
In her speech to the Labour conference, Ms Blears said only 30% of councillors were women "and that must change". | In her speech to the Labour conference, Ms Blears said only 30% of councillors were women "and that must change". |
Ms Blears, a former city councillor, said a Councillors' Commission report due out later this autumn would debate new ways to get people to stand. | Ms Blears, a former city councillor, said a Councillors' Commission report due out later this autumn would debate new ways to get people to stand. |
She also said more powers would be given to councillors to become "true champions of their neighbourhoods". | She also said more powers would be given to councillors to become "true champions of their neighbourhoods". |
This included more say over budgets and control of community assets from disused schools to street markets. | This included more say over budgets and control of community assets from disused schools to street markets. |
Only three out of ten councillors are women Hazel Blears Hazel Blears's speech | |
She told delegates the government wanted to attract a whole range of people to stand as councillors, including young people, and more black and Asian people. | She told delegates the government wanted to attract a whole range of people to stand as councillors, including young people, and more black and Asian people. |
And she added: "One hundred years after women won the vote, only three out of ten councillors are women, and that must change." | And she added: "One hundred years after women won the vote, only three out of ten councillors are women, and that must change." |
Later Equalities Secretary Harriet Harman told the conference that there was a "shameful under-representation" of black and Asian women on local councils across Britain - of which there are just 178. | Later Equalities Secretary Harriet Harman told the conference that there was a "shameful under-representation" of black and Asian women on local councils across Britain - of which there are just 178. |
Ms Harman said, to be representative there should be nearly 1,000. | Ms Harman said, to be representative there should be nearly 1,000. |
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