Bradford Council Conservative Group Leader Cllr Anne Hawkesworth has called for more women across the district to get involved in local politics and stand for election to City Hall.
Speaking at a lunch in aid of Macmillan Cancer at The Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley, Cllr Hawkesworth said she believed there is a perception of the existence of a glass ceiling which stops women from progressing to the highest ranks of political life in Bradford district.
“But, with regard to the Conservative Party, that is simply not the case,” she argued.
“I do not think for a second that my gender came into the equation when, last month, I successfully stood for election as Conservative Group Leader
“And, of course, my predecessor but one – Cllr Margaret Eaton – has been awarded a peerage in honour of her achievements both as a former Leader of Bradford Council and, more recently, as Chairman of the Local Government Association.
“Having said that, I do not believe we have anything like enough female Conservative councillors in Bradford City Hall.
“Further increasing the numbers of women standing as Conservative candidates is one of my primary objectives as Conservative Group Leader and I will be getting out and about to encourage women from across the district to come forward.
“It is unfortunate that the Council’s Labour-controlled Executive does not include a single female member, despite the Labour Group having a number of very capable women on its benches.”
