A FEMALE party leader has called her appointment “a small triumph for womankind.”

Liberal Democrat Gwyneth Deakins, who became leader of the Redbridge branch of her party at the start of September, expressed delight at her new position but said the council has not progressed in terms of female representation.

Cllr Deakins, a Roding councillor since 2010, is the borough’s only female party leader. Seventeen out of 63 councillors are female.

She said: “It’s an honour. It means a bit more responsibility in terms of speaking up for the party in the borough.

“You get to see a little bit more of what’s going on in the council. I am the only female group leader in the council which is a small triumph for womankind.”

Different reasons, some of them familiar, hold women back from joining the profession, she fears.

Cllr Deakins said: “I think it’s all the usual reasons. Women still take more responsibility for managing families and households.

“Some are put off by what they think politics is like, that it’s too aggressive and boring with all the meetings.

“I think women being harassed and abused as we’re seeing in the news at the moment isn’t helpful but I have never experienced that myself.

“There is of course a degree of sexism. All parties say they try to tackle it but it’s always there.”

She vowed to create a more inclusive politics involving local people.

Cllr Deakins said: “I think it’s really about the future development of the borough, including local planning and housing.

“The council’s operations are very secretive. Active involvement from the local community is vital. I don’t think the current council is involving people.”

Cllr Deakins replaced Cllr Ian Bond, who also represents the Roding ward.