SNP pledge £300,000 to help more women into politics

The SNP has pledged a £300,000 fund to help more women into politics if the party is returned to government.

The move was announced by Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan on Monday ahead of a hustings hosted by charity Engender.

The fund would focus on next year’s council elections, with the goal of increasing the proportion of female candidates to 50%.

“The SNP has a proud record of supporting women into politics, but the fact is we need to do much more across Scotland to encourage more women to enter public life,” Ms McAllan said.

“If re-elected in May, our women’s participation fund will help ensure we do all we can to support women into politics and ensure they are empowered to play a full role in public life.

“The first objective has to be getting more women to stand in the local elections next year and that’s exactly where we will start.

“We need more women at the heart of decision-making in Scotland – from a local level right into high office – and this £300,000 fund is a sign of intent and a bold step forward.

“But our work doesn’t stop there.

“Our transformational childcare offer will also give mothers that bit more help to re-enter the workforce and, hopefully, into public life too – the option of year-round childcare until the end of the primary school, that’s what you get from an SNP government on the side of Scottish families.”