For political change to happen, politics itself must change - Alys Mumford

The horrific sexist and racist comments about MP Diane Abbott from a major Tory donor should show everyone that politics is not a safe or welcoming place for Black women.

Everyone rushed to discuss what implications this might have for women’s safety. Everyone, that is, except for Diane Abbott herself, who was not given permission to speak during PMQs, and was forced to stand and listen while others discussed her abuse.

And Westminster isn’t the only place where women are made to feel unwelcome or silenced in politics. Edinburgh Green Councillor and wheelchair user Kayleigh O’Neill has been forced to publicly acknowledge that her safety is at risk if she enters the City Chambers, in order to kickstart the council into paying attention,

Tory councillors attempted to disband the equalities working group last week, saying we focus too much on equality and not enough on “things that actually help people”. And I remain the only woman (co)leader of a political group.

Two weeks ago, the leader of the Liberal Democrats tabled a motion acknowledging the tragic death of schoolboy Thomas Wong, asking for a report into improving road safety. The Greens added to this motion suggesting specific cycle safety measures be included, for example restricting heavy goods vehicles at school drop off and collection times.

Citing a desire not to ‘politicise’ a tragedy, or to pre-empt any findings of the police investigation, the leader of the Liberal Democrats exerted significant pressure on the Greens to withdraw the amendment, which they duly did. The Green transport reps – two women, and the two youngest people ever elected to Edinburgh Council – were repeatedly told that it was inappropriate to call for this, with the implication being that they could cause additional upset and that they should just keep quiet.

Imagine our surprise, therefore, when the following week the press revealed a campaign from that same Liberal Democrat leader for heavy good vehicles to be banned at the school gates. Apparently, he had been ‘spurred into action’ by the recent tragedy. It’s only young women, it seems, who are in danger of acting inappropriately by trying to make change.Two years in, and you’d think I wouldn’t be surprised at cynical moves from other parties, but to be honest I hope I never lose that naivety. To meet such things with a shrug rather than disbelief would be to accept that this is just how things are and we can only expect the worst of others. That’s not how I think we can achieve a better politics.

At the IWD event, panellists were asked why we had stood for election. The answers? “I wanted to make change”. “I was sick of not seeing people talk about things I care about”. “We need more women in politics”.

We absolutely do need more women in politics, but we also need politics – and men in politics – to understand just how many barriers are in our way.