02 November 2007
Many ethnic minority women would like to become councillors but face a range of barriers, according to research.
A report published this week by the Government Equalities Office in conjunction with the Fawcett Society found that ethnic minority women often lack the necessary spare time and money, receive poor support from local political parties and have little knowledge of what councils do.
Zohra Moosa, Fawcett's senior policy officer for race and gender, said: 'Ethnic minority women… are motivated and keen to make a difference but councils have not yet modernised to accommodate them.'
She added that councils needed in particular to 'focus on improving recruitment and training, and reviewing working hours and remuneration to ensure that those aren't a barrier to involvement'.
The government has acknowledged that councillors are overwhelmingly white, male and middle-aged.
Earlier this year it set up the Councillors Commission, chaired by former Camden council leader Dame Jane Roberts, to make a series of practical recommendations that can be implemented to improve diversity.
It will report later this year.
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