Misogyny and abuse stop women going for election
Less than a quarter of candidates standing at the upcoming South Ayrshire Council elections are women, largely due to the level of abuse and misogyny which comes their way.
Just 14 of the 60 candidates standing in May are women, 23.3 per cent of the total. In one ward, Prestwick, there will be no female candidate at all.
It is one of the few areas where parties agree on at least one of the underlying problems that face female candidates -that of persistent abuse and misogyny.
The SNP, which has aimed for a 50/50 split in candidates nationally, has the highest proportion among the three main parties, with four female candidates out of 13, around 30 per cent.
At the last election, three of the nine SNP councillors returned was female.
The Conservatives have the same number of women standing, but this is just over 21 per cent of their 19 candidates. In 2017, just one of their 11 elected members, Margaret Toner, was female. Labour, had one female candidate elected in 2017, Helen Moonie, out of five councillors in total.
South Ayrshire Conservatives leader Martin Dowey said: “We tried hard to find female candidates, but it has been very difficult to get them to stand due to the toxic abuse candidates of all parties sometimes receive.”
SNP leader Peter Henderson said: “I know that the SNP have made strenuous efforts to encourage female candidates as well as disabled and minority candidates in this election.
“Unfortunately feedback indicates that the lengthy working hours, poor salary, and issues regarding childcare along with abuse etc have dissuaded many worthy candidates from standing.
“The party and COSLA are seeking to address these matters.
“The level of abuse and misogyny has increased especially on social media. Abusive emails and phone calls directed at female candidates has also increased.”