Men still hold two thirds of council seats

♦ Women make up only a third of council seats, a think tank has revealed, as it called for quotas to improve gender balance in local government.

Only 17 per cent of council leaders are female, analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) also found. The think tank urged political parties and local authorities to take “radical” action, including ambitious quotas and encouraging more women to stand.

Clare Mcneil, an IPPR associate director, said: “It cannot be right in 2017 that there are barely any women represented in the leadership of our newest democratic institutions, the combined authorities.

“Efforts made to address this are to be welcomed, but radical change is needed if devolution is to be about bringing power to the people, rather than consolidating it among white, middle-aged men.” 77F (25C). Southern England and East Anglia will enjoy the best of the weather as cloud and rain make way for a hot and humid spell.

But not all of Britain will be blessed with fine conditions, with forecasters predicting a north/south divide.