Councils 'need more ethnic minority women'

Ministers have accepted that more needs to be done to encourage women councillors from ethnic minorities.

Women's minister Harriet Harman and local government secretary Hazel Blears both agreed that there are too few black and Asian females on local authorities after a report released on Monday found that they are often "swimming against the tide".

The Fawcett Society report found that the commitment of local political parties to diversity was "weak" and that little was being done at ground level to increase representation.

Responding, the two ministers said the government had established a commission to look at the subject.

Harman said: "Traditionally people have seen being a councillor as a white middle class hobby for men.

"The 2.3 million black, Asian and ethnic minority women in the UK make a great contribution to our society and economy and we need them to be represented at every level of our democracy from magistrates and councillors in their local communities to MPs at Westminster."

Blears added that "we do need to ensure all elected representatives, national and local, better reflect their communities".

"I know what an invaluable role councillors play in every aspect of our communities," she said.

"But if we want to make sure that councils are truly representative so that every voice in every part of the community is
being heard it is vital that we find new ways to encourage more black and ethnic minority women to take up these crucial posts.

"That is why we set up the Councillors Commission - that will report to me later this year - and I am committed to finding practical ways that will help to make this happen."