It is vitally important that British citizens of whatever background feel that they are represented in democracy. Hazel Blears, Comms & Local Govt Sec. of State

A new taskforce to help more black, Asian and minority ethnic women to become councillors has been launched today by Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality. The taskforce will be chaired by Baroness Uddin, the first Muslim woman in the House of Lords and a prominent figure in the black and Asian community. Members will include councillors from across Britain, from all ethnicities and political parties.

Only around 168 out of 20,000 councillors are black, Asian or minority ethnic women. This is less than one per cent, despite the fact they make up more than 5% of the population. To be fully representative this needs to increase more than fivefold to around 1000 minority ethnic women councillors. At the current rate of increase this could take more than 130 years. The taskforce will take practical action to address this under-representation, such as provide mentoring, hold outreach events in community centres to make the role of councillors more widely known and better understood.

The taskforce will work with organisations such as the Local Government Association, Operation Black Vote and the Fawcett Society to develop awareness training, establish networking groups, conduct research, work with local councils, political parties and organisations like IdeA to improve the recruitment, training and selection and support given to candidates as well as working with others producing guidance and advice .

Harriet Harman said that empowering black and Asian women into public roles is a key priority for Government. “They are a force for good within their communities, and in building bridges between communities. Their contribution must be better recognised and supported and we need our local councils to better reflect the local community. “

The taskforce will last 12 months, with an option to review and take account of some of the recommendations of the independent Councillors Commission (published last December). It will identify action to increase awareness and build confidence and skills; reach out into communities to encourage women to step forward to become local councillors; identify and tackle barriers within political parties; and reduce disadvantage and stereotyping from within and outside the communities.

The Government Equalities Office has worked closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the work of the Councillors Commission, which looked at the incentives and barriers to standing as councillors, and included increasing the representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic women, as well as other under-represented groups.

Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, will be responding to the Councillors' Commission report in the summer. She said: "The proportion of councillors from ethnic minority backgrounds represents only half the number of [black and minority ethnic] people in this country. It is vitally important that British citizens of whatever background feel that they are represented in democracy and I welcome the work that this taskforce will do to ensure that everyone can have the opportunity to contribute to politics and have their voices heard."