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MNHQ here: Ask your councillor to sign our open letter on remote meetings

JuliaMumsnet · 2022-06-08 09:08:32

Hello there TLDR: We've written an updated [[https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/keep-council-meetings-accessible-sign-our-open-letter/ open letter]] urging Government to allow councils to have remote meetings like they do in other parts of the UK. Find your councillor using [[https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-councillors this tool]] and ask them to sign. Did you know that there were *almost 500 Davids standing in the recent 2022 local elections* across England, Scotland and Wales? The [[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/local-election-analysis-says-the-typical-candidate-is-a-47-year-old-man-called-david-6txvmj9d5 16 top common names ]]for candidates were men’s: after David it was John, Paul, Peter (isn’t that a band, or a Bible passage?), Andrew… And the list goes on until the first woman's name - Sarah - at number 17. *Only 34% of the 21,000 candidates* were women. This is why we’re trying to make politics more appealing and more accessible for women - because [[https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/women-in-politics-mumsnet-campaign until women get a seat at the table,]] the issues that matter to us will continue to be ignored. You may remember we wrote an [[https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_campaigns/4235816-MNHQ-here-keep-council-meetings-accessible open letter in April 2021]] (thanks to all of you who contacted your councillors about that one) - and we're writing a new one because two local elections have taken place since and the situation has significantly changed. The County Councils Network’s recent [[https://www.countycouncilsnetwork.org.uk/moving-permanently-to-a-hybrid-model-of-both-online-and-in-person-council-meetings-would-improve-the-diversity-of-local-councils-a-new-survey-says/ survey ]]found that: 87% of councillors would like their council to be *able to adopt a hybrid set-up.* Of the councillors who had caring responsibilities, 9 in 10 said a hybrid model would allow them to *better balance their role with local government and the rest of their lives* (so did 8 out of 10 without caring responsibilities!) 72% of those surveyed from the 36 local authorities CCN represents also said r*emote participation could attract more young people, ethnic minorities, and women* to stand in local elections. So that’s it really - reinstating remote meetings is *an opportunity to open up politics* not only to women and parents but also to other groups underrepresented in local councils: disabled people, black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups, and young people. For the letter and how to sign it, click [[https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/keep-council-meetings-accessible-sign-our-open-letter/ here]]. Find your local councillor(s) and their contact details [[https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-councillors here]]. Don’t forget to [[https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/keep-council-meetings-accessible-sign-our-open-letter/ retweet ]]us! And if you’re new to this campaign, there’s more about it [[https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/keep-council-meetings-accessible-mumsnet-campaign/ here]]. Thanks! MNHQ ^And don’t forget that by emailing your councillor, you’re also helping Mumsnet to raise the voices of women in the places where decisions are taken. You can also do this by joining our [[https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/stand-up-for-women campaigns email list]] or [[https://www.mumsnet.com/l/premium-offers signing up to premium]]!^

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JuliaMumsnet · 08/06/2022 10:08

Hello there

TLDR: We've written an updated open letter urging Government to allow councils to have remote meetings like they do in other parts of the UK. Find your councillor using this tool and ask them to sign.

Did you know that there were almost 500 Davids standing in the recent 2022 local elections across England, Scotland and Wales? The 16 top common names for candidates were men’s: after David it was John, Paul, Peter (isn’t that a band, or a Bible passage?), Andrew… And the list goes on until the first woman's name - Sarah - at number 17. Only 34% of the 21,000 candidates were women.

This is why we’re trying to make politics more appealing and more accessible for women - because until women get a seat at the table, the issues that matter to us will continue to be ignored.

You may remember we wrote an open letter in April 2021 (thanks to all of you who contacted your councillors about that one) - and we're writing a new one because two local elections have taken place since and the situation has significantly changed.

The County Councils Network’s recent survey found that:

87% of councillors would like their council to be able to adopt a hybrid set-up.
Of the councillors who had caring responsibilities, 9 in 10 said a hybrid model would allow them to better balance their role with local government and the rest of their lives (so did 8 out of 10 without caring responsibilities!)
72% of those surveyed from the 36 local authorities CCN represents also said remote participation could attract more young people, ethnic minorities, and women to stand in local elections.

So that’s it really - reinstating remote meetings is an opportunity to open up politics not only to women and parents but also to other groups underrepresented in local councils: disabled people, black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups, and young people.

For the letter and how to sign it, click here.

Find your local councillor(s) and their contact details here.

Don’t forget to retweet us! And if you’re new to this campaign, there’s more about it here.

Thanks!

MNHQ

And don’t forget that by emailing your councillor, you’re also helping Mumsnet to raise the voices of women in the places where decisions are taken. You can also do this by joining our campaigns email list or signing up to premium!