It is a measure of how much society has changed in relatively recent times that the outcome of the local authority election in the Western Isles has been described as ‘depressing and embarrassing’.
That description has been levelled, of course, because there is not a single woman councillor elected in the Western Isles. It is not so long ago that such a result would not have prompted comment at all in some areas. In part, the problem with a lack of representation stems from a small number of women candidates, which saw only six females out of 60 hopefuls. As one of the candidates, Lesley McKenzie, told the Lochaber Times, that the shortage of women standing makes the outcome hardly surprising.
On a more positive note, Ms McKenzie pointed out that there is a recently-constituted group called the Hebridean Women’s Network which has started up in recognition of the lack of female representation in public life. Ms McKenzie now says she hopes the ‘ridiculous’ election result will prove to be a catalyst for more women to come forward for election in the Western Isles. We can only hope that is the case.