None of the major parties in Cardiff Council have equal gender representation
OF Cardiff’s 75 councillors, only 27, or 36%, are women.
Among the various parties, the Liberal Democrats have the lowest proportion of female councillors at just 12% while the two largest parties in the council, Labour and the Conservatives, are both 62% male and 38% female.
While voters can only choose between candidates put forward by the parties, the figures have put a spotlight on who the parties select for election in the city’s various wards and why more women don’t stand as independents.
Councillor Emma Sandrey is one of only two female Liberal Democrat councillors. She said: “The gender imbalance in the council is definitely noticeable to me.”
Cardiff Council still perform better than the national average and is sixth out of 22 councils in Wales when it comes to the proportion of women in the council.
According to data produced by The National, on average only 28.8% of councillors in Welsh local authorities are women. The average in English local councils is 35%. At 36%, Cardiff is just above this average.
This chart shows Cardiff’s council compared to the lowest, median and highest councils in terms of percentage of female councillors. Cardiff is above average for local authorities in Wales and England.
In Cardiff, seven out of the 10 cabinet members are male and Coun Sandrey has questioned whether this might make younger, female councillors unwilling to speak up at full council meetings.
“There is nowhere near enough appreciation of understanding of what different power dynamics mean and how people feel able to participate,” said Coun Sandrey.
“Senior members do not understand the power that they have to intimidate people without even being aware of it.
“We will see that as councillors stand down ahead of the next elections, particularly women.”
Cardiff residents shared their thoughts on the council’s gender split.
Gareth Oakey, 42, of North Rhiwbina, said: “The problem you have is that councillors are elected by a vote. If you want to manipulate the split, then you have to manipulate the result of that vote.”
Emer Fosbroke, 19, is a workshop manager at MOD St Athan. She said: “As a woman in a male-based workplace I think often women are inspired to work in fields like politics from a young age but then are often knocked down. Unpleasant comments or being told they’re just a woman can put them off.
“We are seeing a rapid increase in women in high power jobs now, but I still think it will take time before there is an even balance. It takes women in power to encourage more women to take that jump.”
Boris Sevsek, 33, of Lakeside, said: “I think the best people for the job should do the job, regardless of gender, race or any other factor. I wouldn’t care if the council was 100% male or female if it meant the best people got to do what they are good at.”
