Male councillors accused of ‘vile’, ‘intimidating’ and ‘challenging’ behaviour

Ten years ago, David Cameron told a female MP to ‘calm down dear' in the Commons.

Five years ago MP Jo Cox was murdered.

Four weeks ago, Newbury MP Laura Farris told a court how she had been "absolutely terrified" by the "relentless... obsessional... fury and fixation" of one of her constituents.

This week, West Berkshire Council acknowledged there is a problem for female politicians.

It only has six female councillors - including leader of the council, Lynne Doherty - out of a total of 43; the second lowest number in the country.

And female councillors say the ‘vile’, ‘intimidating’ and ‘challenging’ behaviour of male colleagues is putting women off politics.

As Local Democracy Reporter Niki Hinman reports, a cross party group of West Berkshire’s female councillors want to lead by example and encourage more women into the fold.

Data released by gender equality campaigning charity, the Fawcett Society, shows that just 34 per cent of the 4,980 councillors elected in May were women.

It ranked West Berkshire as the second lowest on the table for female representation.

And now a cross party group of female West Berkshire councillors is aiming to change that.

Claire Rowles (Con, Hungerford and Kintbury) said: “It can be challenging and confrontational. We have only got six of us, so it has to be the male contingent that are setting the atmosphere."

She said that a lack of confidence plays a part in stopping women coming forward.

“Men will put themselves forward whereas women need to be encouraged - tapped on the shoulder," she added. "I think it is a confidence thing.”

The group of women have all pledged to act in a civil, polite fashion in debate, in the hope that it will rub off.

Green group leader Carolyne Culver (Green, Ridgeway) said: “It can be vile. I’ve been involved in politics for nearly 30 years. Sometimes, when they are really horrible, I think I can give as good as I get, but I prefer to hold myself back as the public are watching, and they don’t want to see me acting like a man, chest-beating and having a go at other people. I try to make my points in as calm and level a fashion as possible.

“We had a meeting in December last year which was like a bloodbath. I got emails after that from people saying there was no way on this earth I would consider standing for election after what I just witnessed.”

Jo Stewart (Con, Tilehurst Birch Copse) added: “Leading others by our own behaviour is perhaps the only thing we have control over. I am a big believer that behaviour breeds behaviour.”

They are now working together to find more women, younger people and others from more diverse backgrounds to come forward for public office.

Martha Vickers (Lib Dem, Newbury Central) first became a councillor more than 30 years ago when, working as a health visitor, she said she wanted to help people more.

She believes this is the way most women want to operate in local politics.

“In getting to know your community you can understand what the issues are," she said. "We now talk about the seldom heard - people who don’t speak up for themselves. As a councillor you can be an advocate for people who need help or for someone to speak for them.”

Her colleagues agree.

“This is another way in which you can make a difference in addition to environmental concerns, to get into mainstream politics rather than single issues,” added Ms Culver.

They are now looking to women working in activism, in local community groups and parish councils to come forward, and want to talk to young people at schools and colleges.

“It sounds rather twee, but you do it because you want to make the world a better place,” added Ms Stewart.

“It feels like you are wading through treacle, but if you don’t put your wellies on and just jump in then nothing is ever going to change.”