Too few women’s voices are heard in public life

By Yvette Cooper MP and Hilary Benn MP

From the boardroom to Downing Street, from the media to Whitehall, too few women’s voices are heard in public life. That’s unfair on women, but its also bad for families, business, the economy and public services when women’s talents go ignored.

That’s why the action by Labour councils to promote more women into senior positions is so important. As the ‘i’ newspaper reported today, figures show that the average number of female senior officers in Labour councils is now approaching parity. 47% of senior officers in Labour councils are now women compared to just 37% of senior officers Tory councils, with the Lib Dems behind on 36%.

The message is clear; Labour leadership makes a difference. From pioneering All-Women Shortlists, to the number of Labour women MPs, we are proud that Labour is leading the way.

As local councils know, the best decisions are made when those making them reflect the local community and wider society they serve, and draw on everyone’s talents. Ensuring that women have a fair and equal chance to make their voices heard at all levels is not only the right, it makes best use of all skills and talent.

That is why the high share of female senior council officers in Labour-led authorities is an important achievement. But Labour in local government has made clear we must go further. There are still not enough female councillors, especially from a diversity of backgrounds, and most local authority Chief Executives are still men. From flexible working, to improving the selection process, Labour councils and local parties will continue to innovate to find the best ways to get more women into politics.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for central Government. Decisions that are squeezing family living standards are being made by an all-male team of Treasury Ministers. Despite promises that a third of his Government would be women, the proportion of women attending David Cameron’s Cabinet has actually fallen. Embarrassingly, at the end of last year, the UK slipped down the global gender gap league table because the Prime Minister put so few women in his Government. It’s no coincidence that women across the country are being hit hard by a Government that contains so few female voices.

More action is needed in the Civil Service too where still only 36% of senior civil servants are women. At the same time less than one in five FTSE100 directors are women. Recent figures showed the gender pay gap among Britain’s managers is actually getting wider. On current trends, women will have to wait until 2067 for equal pay and until 2071 for gender equality in Parliament.

Real equality requires a cultural change across the whole of society and politicians and the Coalition should be taking the lead. Instead they are turning the clock back. For example, good careers advice can challenge gender stereotypes and encourage girls to break into male-dominated professions. Yet, Connexions services are facing huge cuts or closing completely. Cuts to local government grants are threatening Sure Start centres making it harder and more expensive for mothers to work. Action to narrow the gender pay gap has been watered down. And women are being hit more than three times as hard as men by George Osborne’s tax and benefit changes – even though they earn less and own less than men.

David Cameron’s problem with women means the Government is failing to show the leadership on women’s equality that we need. Yet Labour in local government is showing what is possible, and the determination to do more. The figures show that with the right political will we can make progress. What we need, however, is more of it.

Yvette Cooper is the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities. Hilary Benn is the Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government