The results of the May local elections across England highlighted a persistent problem in British politics: women remained underrepresented in local government. While attention often focuses on increasing the number of women elected, an equally important challenge is keeping them in office once they get there.
Although there has been progress in recent decades, women still make up only around a third of councillors in the UK. Our research on women’s participation in local government suggests that family-friendly working arrangements could be part of the solution.
