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| Western Isles bid to increase women in public office | Western Isles bid to increase women in public office |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Women across the Western Isles are being encouraged to enter politics. | Women across the Western Isles are being encouraged to enter politics. |
| At present, all councillors in the islands are men and the region is represented by men both at Holyrood and at Westminster. | At present, all councillors in the islands are men and the region is represented by men both at Holyrood and at Westminster. |
| The Parliament Project will hold workshops in Stornoway in Lewis, on Thursday and Balivanich in Benbecula, on Friday. | The Parliament Project will hold workshops in Stornoway in Lewis, on Thursday and Balivanich in Benbecula, on Friday. |
| The aim of the events is to "inspire and empower" women to run for public office. | The aim of the events is to "inspire and empower" women to run for public office. |
| Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - is supporting the events. | Western Isles Council - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - is supporting the events. |
| In 2017's local authority elections, only seven female candidates came forward in the Western Isles out of a total of 60. | In 2017's local authority elections, only seven female candidates came forward in the Western Isles out of a total of 60. |
| None of the female candidates was successful in being elected and for the first time in its history the comhairle had only male councillors. | None of the female candidates was successful in being elected and for the first time in its history the comhairle had only male councillors. |
| The most women the comhairle had was between 2007 and 2012 when there were five. | The most women the comhairle had was between 2007 and 2012 when there were five. |
| In the mid 1960s, Stornoway elected its first female provost, Ann Urquhart, | In the mid 1960s, Stornoway elected its first female provost, Ann Urquhart, |
| In her acceptance speech in Stornoway Town Hall in 1965, she said: "I hope that in taking this role - I may blaze the trail for women in this burgh to come forward into public life". | In her acceptance speech in Stornoway Town Hall in 1965, she said: "I hope that in taking this role - I may blaze the trail for women in this burgh to come forward into public life". |
| Mairi Bremner was a councillor for 25 years in the islands and will be one of the speakers at the Benbecula workshop. | Mairi Bremner was a councillor for 25 years in the islands and will be one of the speakers at the Benbecula workshop. |
| She told BBC Scotland she was saddened by the lack of female representation on the comhairle. | She told BBC Scotland she was saddened by the lack of female representation on the comhairle. |
| She said: "It grieves me because I think women have a better understanding of people's needs and wishes. | She said: "It grieves me because I think women have a better understanding of people's needs and wishes. |
| "I also think women are more approachable. I felt that I was approached more, and by people from outwith my own area for a lot of things because they felt like they could talk to a woman." | "I also think women are more approachable. I felt that I was approached more, and by people from outwith my own area for a lot of things because they felt like they could talk to a woman." |
| The Parliament Project is a non-partisan initiative that seeks to "inspire, empower and encourage" women to run for political office in the UK. | The Parliament Project is a non-partisan initiative that seeks to "inspire, empower and encourage" women to run for political office in the UK. |
| It runs information and skills-building events and offers peer networking to support women to get elected. | It runs information and skills-building events and offers peer networking to support women to get elected. |
| Since 2016, it has delivered workshops to more 3,000 women in Scotland and England, many of whom have gone on to stand for election. | Since 2016, it has delivered workshops to more 3,000 women in Scotland and England, many of whom have gone on to stand for election. |
| Edinburgh-based co-director Lee Chalmers said: "We are delighted to be coming to the Western Isles. | Edinburgh-based co-director Lee Chalmers said: "We are delighted to be coming to the Western Isles. |
| "There are huge numbers of women out there who could be getting ready to run for office - we meet them every day - yet women make up only 36% of the members of the Scottish Parliament and 24% of the councillors." | "There are huge numbers of women out there who could be getting ready to run for office - we meet them every day - yet women make up only 36% of the members of the Scottish Parliament and 24% of the councillors." |
| Derek Mackay, democratic services manager at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar , said: "I would encourage women interested in politics or representing their communities to go along to one of these workshops. | |
| "We would like to see a more representative local authority and indeed across the public sector." | "We would like to see a more representative local authority and indeed across the public sector." |