SNP urged to act as sexism epidemic drives women out of Scottish politics
Research showed that 18% of women had decided against standing for another term following their experience12:47, 18 Jun 2026TheSNP Governmentis under pressure to launch an urgent safety review after a. . .
Research showed that 18% of women had decided against standing for another term following their experience12:47, 18 Jun 2026TheSNP Governmentis under pressure to launch an urgent safety review after a bombshell report revealed 90% of female councillors in Scotland have suffered sexism, gender based violence or misogyny at some point during their political careers. The shocking report exposed the toxic culture hiding within the background oflocal government politicsfollowing a probe by feminist thinktank Engender. The organisation found that the scale of abuse had been brushed under the carpet as being "part of the job" which comes months after aseparate reviewrevealed more than 80 previously unreported incidents of bullying and sexual harassment at Holyrood. Engender carried out surveys and in-depth interviews across 18 local authorities as part of its report into the daily reality for women working in local politics. It found that around 75 of those affected reported suffering at least three different forms of violence, including psychological, economic, cyber and even physical violence. Meanwhile, all minority ethnic, lesbian and bisexual councillors, and 89% of respondents under the age of 55 experience at least three forms. The group found that the top reason behind women not reporting issues was they were not confident their complaint would be taken seriously. It also found that 64% experienced sexism, misogyny and violence said they had experienced psychological violence as a councillor, while 40% said they had experienced sexual harassment. It found the councillors which did experience sexual harassment around 81% did not report it. Engender found the most common perpetrators identified by respondents were councillors from another part or independents followed by residents and councillors from their own party. A participant told researchers: "I think every woman I know has experienced some form of violence. . . So I think that every woman councillor in Scotland has experienced it. . . But I think it's just part of the job. "Catherine Murphy, executive director of Engender, said: "This research lays bare what too many women in Scottish local politics have long known: that sexism, misogyny and gender-based violence are part of the everyday reality of being a woman councillor. That is completely unacceptable. "Local councils make decisions that shape all of our lives, and women's voices at that table are vital. We cannot afford to lose women from local politics, or to deter others from entering, because we have failed to take this seriously. With elections on the horizon, the time for urgent action is now. "The report also found that 48% said their experiences caused them to become less vocal during their political journey while 42% said they had restricted their social media accounts or quit. A third confirmed they withdrew from public discourse, the media, or meetings with constituents, while a 20% said they have been excluded from the decision making processes. It also found that 18% revealed they had decided not to stand for office again because of sexism,, misogyny or violence, while three respondents said they had quit their post. The women's rights organisation is now calling for the Scottish executive to commission an independent review of the safety of women councillors and how to improve reporting mechanisms and procedure for abused experienced online or in person. It also recommended local authorities review policies and procedures to reduce violence against women and girls. Cllr Shona Morrison, Cosla president, said: "Cosla recognises the experiences of sexism, misogyny and violence reported in Engender's report, and it is not acceptable that this is something our women councillors face. "No-one should feel unsafe because of the role they play in their community. Hate, violence and intimidation have no place in our political discourse or our communities and serve only to silence voices, deter participation, and erode trust in our democratic institutions. Cosla continues to work closely with Police Scotland through Operation Ford to protect local elected members and candidates from harassment, intimidation and threats and would always encourage elected members to report these incidents when they happen. "Political leaders at every level must set the standard. They must create an appropriate tone, call out unacceptable behaviour wherever they see it and refuse to tolerate language or actions that incite division, fear or harm. Cosla's adoption of the Civility Charter in March 2026 is a clear statement of intent and makes it clear that robust debate must never cross into personal abuse or threats. Respect is fundamental to a healthy democracy. "Article continues belowA Scottish Government spokesperson said: "Like everyone else, councillors have the right to work without fear of abuse or threats to their personal safety. As elected representatives they must be able to serve their communities without the fear of harm. "