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The islands with no female politicians The islands with no female councillors
(about 2 hours later)
A project is trying to convince more women to run for office in Scottish islands where all the elected politicians are male.A project is trying to convince more women to run for office in Scottish islands where all the elected politicians are male.
Only seven women stood as candidates in the 2017 council elections in the Western Isles - and none of them won a seat on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.Only seven women stood as candidates in the 2017 council elections in the Western Isles - and none of them won a seat on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
The area is also represented by men in both the Scottish and UK parliaments. Male candidates also won the isles' seats in the Scottish and UK parliaments.
Now The Parliament Project, which aims to inspire more women to stand for election, is targeting the islands. The Parliament Project aims to inspire more women to stand for election.
It is holding two workshops in the Western Isles, supported by the comhairle, one of which will be addressed by Mairi Bremner, who was a councillor for 25 years in the area.It is holding two workshops in the Western Isles, supported by the comhairle, one of which will be addressed by Mairi Bremner, who was a councillor for 25 years in the area.
She said she was saddened by the absence of women on the comhairle.She said she was saddened by the absence of women on the comhairle.
"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," she said.
"I also think women are more approachable."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 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 Western Isles do have a history of female political representation.The Western Isles do have a history of female political representation.
In the mid 1960s, Stornoway elected Ann Urquhart as its first female provost.In the mid 1960s, Stornoway elected Ann Urquhart as its first female provost.
In her acceptance speech in Stornoway Town Hall, 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, 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."
Representation on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar reached its peak between 2007 and 2012, when there were five women councillors.Representation on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar reached its peak between 2007 and 2012, when there were five women councillors.
However, in the 2017 elections the comhairle only returned male councillors for the first time in its history.However, in the 2017 elections the comhairle only returned male councillors for the first time in its history.
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.
'More representative''More representative'
"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."
It is holding workshops in Stornoway on Thursday and at Balivanich, in Benbecula, on Friday.It is holding workshops in Stornoway on Thursday and at Balivanich, in Benbecula, on Friday.
Derek Mackay, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's democratic services manager, encouraged any women who are interested in politics, or representing their communities, to attend.Derek Mackay, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's democratic services manager, encouraged any women who are interested in politics, or representing their communities, to attend.
"We would like to see a more representative local authority and public sector," he said."We would like to see a more representative local authority and public sector," he said.