Ms Rachel Coyle:

Yes. It is in the parties' interests to increase women's representation. Not to be conspiratorial about whether there is opposition to implementing family-friendly policies but from conversations we had with local authorities, there is not necessarily an obvious reluctance. I think it is just that we have fallen into patterns of doing things in the way we do our work because it is the way things were always done. For me anyway, the pandemic exposed that. I just do not believe that. As things can be done differently and better, it is about having the conversation and we can do that in these spaces, so I really appreciate the opportunity to do so.