Nicola Sturgeon knows a thing or two about smashing glass ceilings.
She became the first woman to lead the SNP and to become First Minister.
So when she warns that her party has struggled to attract female candidates to stand for this week’s council elections, we should take notice.
The SNP is Scotland’s biggest party by membership and can usually select individual election candidates from a number of applicants.
It’s fair to say that local authorities do not hold the appeal of Holyrood or Westminster.
Councils are responsible for vital services but their hard work can often go unnoticed by the wider public.
Yet there’s still never any shortage of male candidates for local elections.
The First Minister has blamed a toxic culture in politics that has been fuelled in part by social media.
It’s a sad reality that all politicians can expect a degree of abuse online – but women do seem to get it worse.
Sexism in politics has once again become a big talking point following a string of unsavoury revelations at
Westminster.
But we can’t kid ourselves this is a problem that only happens in London.
Women who have worked at all levels of politics in Scotland will be able to share examples of the sexism they face.
Councils – like national parliaments – must be representative of the people they serve.
That means we need to encourage as many women as possible to stand for election.
Stamping out sexist attitudes must happen now.
A funny fellow
Sir Billy Connolly has received many honours in a glittering career in show business.
The freedom of his home city of Glasgow and a knighthood are among the accolades to come the great man’s way.
Now as he approaches his 80th birthday, Sir Billy is to receive this year’s Bafta Fellowship.
Bafta has recognised his “outstanding and exceptional contribution” to film and TV.
The latest honour is richly deserved – in a career spanning more than five decades, no one has made the nation laugh as much and as long as Billy.
It is still impossible to watch An Audience with Billy Connolly from the 80s and not be reduced to tears.
He continues to delight audiences with his occasional television work despite having retired from live performing and living with Parkinson’s disease.
If there were such an honour as National Treasure, Sir Billy would be a worthy recipient.
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