Councillor Hobhouse acknowledges 100 years of female councillors

12.00.00am GMT Tue 6th Nov 2007

Councillor Wera Hobhouse is calling for more women to get involved in politics. Councillor Hobhouse was speaking on the 100th anniversary of the election of female councillors - women councillors were first elected in this country at the elections in early November 1907, following the Qualification of Women Act. They started taking office at the first meetings of the new councils, 100 years ago this week. It took another 21 years before women got the same voting rights as men, in 1928.

Councillor Hobhouse said: "Here in the Rochdale Borough, women play a key role in our political life. Take for example my colleague, Councillor Irene Davidson who is our Deputy Leader and doing an excellent job in her role as Portfolio Holder for Education. Early on in the century, women were put off entering a male dominated world. Indeed, many councils across the country are still that way. In our Borough, 24 out of our 60 Councillors are woman from all parties and that is hugely encouraging. I would like to see more women throwing their hat in the ring and entering public life."

Councillor Hobhouse is also the Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Heywood and Middleton. She said, "I would like to see more female MPs in Parliament, there are currently not enough across the country. As a female candidate for the Liberal Democrats, I have received excellent help and training. I know that all political parties are looking at improving and that is the right thing to do. I am slightly upset that no female candidate has entered the race for the Lib Dem Leadership. I predict though that the next Lib Dem Leader after Nick Clegg or Chris Huhne will be a woman."