Ariane Burgess: To ensure everyone is represented, we need more diversity of experience
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Holyrood Notebook by Ariane Burgess
The world that we live in, that we experience day to day, is often shaped by other people’s decisions.
All of us live in places that have been shaped predominately by men. Today women make up only 35 per cent of UK MPs, 45 per cent of MSPs, and only 29 per cent of councillors.
Across Scotland and the world, we desperately need more women in seats in all chambers of government – locally, nationally and internationally. Should women be given the space to lead? No, we need to take it, and occupy it.
We’re living in a world that has been shaped from only one perspective, so much is missing.
Increasingly women are finding their way to the decision-making table – at work and in community settings. And bit by bit more of us are appearing in the decision-making places of local and national government. But I am shocked at how long it is taking, and, in some cases, it seems we are sliding backwards.
My own political career is rooted in community and environmental activism, elected office seemed out of reach. I had never considered it as an option.
Rather, I, along with other activists, pushed from the outside to bring about change. It wasn’t until I returned home to Scotland that I contemplated entering politics as a candidate and even then, I tended to take a supporting role to help others get elected.
I know, and have met with, women from Caithness who are out working in the community that would make fantastic councillors, but it may not have occurred to them to put themselves forward.
In my role as the convener of the local government, housing and planning committee – I am leading on work to find out what the barriers are for people stepping forward into elected office.
There are several, and many that won’t be resolved before the next local elections. But something that the committee has done is written to all the local authorities to ask what training and support for existing and newly elected members is being put in place when the next local government session starts.
We can’t create a Highland Council that works for the diversity of people who live here without all the perspectives at the table. Women have different lived experiences, disabled people have different lived experiences, young people and people of colour have different lived experiences.
We now know that we will get a better result if these people are represented by people who share those experiences.
In the face of the climate and nature emergencies, in the face of so many challenges facing young people and families, and the erosion of communities, under-represented groups should be at the forefront of decision-making. We must take the space to apply our perspective and creativity – to chart a course and shape a better future for everyone – our communities and the planet.
What led to me being here today as an MSP was two steps – both involved encouragement from someone else. The first was a man telling me I’d make a good councillor or MSP – and the second was from a woman phoning me to ask if I would consider standing. The simple act of being asked gave me the confidence to take the next step.
Above all else, I would encourage everyone to vote and make their voice heard. But, I would also ask you to consider what steps you can take to encourage someone from an underrepresented group to stand and support them as a candidate.
This May, let’s deliver a Highland Council which truly represents the communities it serves.
- Ariane Burgess is a Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
