WOMEN are still under represented in politics but those who are elected to office are inspiring others to make their mark.

While the current crop of Glasgow councillors, MSPs and MPs inspire others to follow in their footsteps, they also had many strong women in Glasgow and further afield to look to for inspiration.

Patricia Ferguson, Labour MSP for Maryhill and Springburn has a UN poster on her office wall showing the proportion of women in parliaments around the world.

It doesn't paint a picture of equality, with the UK below 25% and other countries well below even that.

She has been an MSP since 1999 and said Margaret Thatcher was the one woman who was largely responsible for getting her into politics.

Ms Ferguson said of the former Prime Minister: "She is an anti-heroine for me. I joined the party at the time of Thatcher to try and do anything I could to oppose the damage she was doing."

Ms Ferguson said her constituency has had the benefit of always having a woman MP, and female councillors and strong women active in the community.

It is that support network she said that had also inspired her.

She said: "The women's support group during the miners' strike was an inspiration. Women fighting for their own families and for their way of life."

She points to former Maryhill MP Maria Fyfe as one who helped her, but said: "The number of women in the Labour Party who have helped me is legion."

Internationally, Hillary Clinton is the female politician who inspires Ms Ferguson the most, partly for her work to improve women's representation in politics around the world.

LIZ Cameron is one of only four women to have served as Glasgow's Lord Provost. She draws inspiration from women close to home and around the world.

She also cites the personal strength of former colleagues in the City Chambers, like Pat Chalmers and the late Madge O'Neill, who she said, led with "commitment and strength".

Not surprisingly Labour figures feature prominently in Ms Cameron's list of inspiring women.

Maria Fyfe MP and former Lord Provost Susan Baird, she said, helped her forge her own political career.

And even women from different political persuasions and cultures can offer inspiration.

Ms Cameron said: "Angela Merkel. I don't share her politics but her strength is inspiring. Hillary Clinton, I'd gladly campaign for her, she is amazing.

"Aung San Suu Kyi, her courage and charisma and grace under fire are spellbinding."

SANDRA White, who has served as an SNP MSP since 1999, said local activists provided her with the drive and confidence to be a politician.

She said Wendy Wood, one of the SNP founders, was an inspiration - "a firebrand" - she said

"To hear her talk, she was very impressive,"said the Kelvin MSP.

Ms White said another woman who gave her great encouragement was the late Alison Hunter, who was SNP Group leader on Glasgow City Council but did so much more in the local party organisation

She said: "She helped me with advice and encouraged me to stand for party positions and in elections.

"She is sadly missed."

Ms White said, currently, she is impressed by Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, who she met during the referendum campaign, but also the numbers of women who are "finding their voice again" as a result of the referendum.

RUTH Davidson, the Conservative leader, said strong female role models helped her believe in herself.

She said: "I had some outstanding teachers, who made me believe I could go on and do anything. Alison Reid, Isobel McIntyre and Louise Glen are the three that inspired me the most.

"When I worked at the BBC, my editor was married to the MEP, Struan Stevenson. When I was considering becoming a candidate, he really encouraged me."

Ms Davidson, a former TA reservist, delved into history for inspiration from one of the most formidable figures

She said: "If you are looking at political women throughout history, I think it's hard to look past Joan of Arc, who both led an army and united a country."

Lord Provost Sadie Docherty said she wanted to congratulate Nicola Sturgeon on becoming the first female First Minister.

She cited her grandfather, Hugh Ferry, as her first inspiration but thanked a former Deputy Lord Provost, Christine Devine, for persuading her to "go to the next level in my political career".

Ms Docherty also listed First World War rent campaigner Mary Barbour among her heroines.

She said: "Having worked in housing myself, I know the difficulties and hardships people face. What Mary achieved for the people of Glasgow is truly remarkable.

Hillary Clinton has another fan in the Lord Provost. She said: "Political life is never easy and she's handled tough situations very, very well and always with her head held high."

And she offers two quotes form inspirational women as a warning not to underestimate women and to ensure solidarity.

She said: "I have two favourite quotes: "A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it's in hot water." (Eleanor Roosevelt)

"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women." (Madeleine Albright).

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk