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The Big Debate: All-women lists for Tory MPs?

By Lucy Halfhead on Wednesday 21 October 2009

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Samantha and David Cameron - Celebrity News - Marie Claire

 Conservative leader David Cameron has said his party could introduce women-only shortlists of election candidates.

He believes under-representation of women and ethnic minorities is ‘a real problem for Parliament and it's been an even greater problem for my party'.

Currently, there are 19 female Tory MPs but Mr Cameron wants there to be 60 female Tory MPs if the Conservatives win the next election. But that still does not compare with Labour's record - currently they have 125 female MPs - which may be why Cameron is considering all-women shortlists, so a woman is guaranteed to represent the Conservatives if they win that seat.

All-women shortlists are not new. Labour introduced them 14 years ago, to boost the number of woman MPs in the party, and have been using them again during the current round of selection of parliamentary candidates.

But for the Conservatives, this is something new and controversial, and Cameron's plans have not found favour with his entire party. Tory MP Ann Widdecombe said they were an ‘appalling' idea and would make women MPs ‘second class citizens'.

But what do you think? Should women be given the chance to fast-track into the House of Commons, via girls only lists? Or should women fight for their place in parliament, via mixed-sex lists?

This is your chance to share your thoughts with other women who want an intelligent debate on the subjects we're all sharing with our friends.

Wednesday 21 October 2009

Have your say ...

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I believe that women should be in parliament but because they were the best person for the job. This is just discrimination. This will not employ on merit and the person achieving the position will not be viewed as deserving it in the same way as if they had to go up against any other candidate, be they male or female.
Comment by SP on October 21 13:43

Idiotic, selection should be entirely on ability & suitability,local person if possible.
Comment by Jeffrey Serjeant on October 21 13:59

I think this is a terrible idea. Women should become MPs on merit only, giving them the job for any other reason does not help the country. One only has to look at the female Labour MPs such as Hazel Blears and Jacqui Smith to see why a policy such as this should not be implemented. Are we saying that male MPs will not put forward policies which benefit women? I don't believe this is the case. If I wanted to be an MP, I would want to achieve the position because I was good enough to do the job, not because I was given some preferential treatment, so in that respect, I agree with Ann Widdecombe. I have no respect for someone who only got the job because they are a woman, especially when they may have taken the job from someone who is actually a better candidate. I think it is sufficient to ensure that women are not discriminated against in applying for the position, as our laws currently do; positive discrimination is a step too far.
Comment by Julie on October 21 14:01

To put women in parliment just because they are women is quite insulting. I would hate to be accepted into a job if the only reason I was there was to boost statistics - and not because I was the best candidate. Women will only start to have equal rights in this world when we are stopped being used as a patronising marketing tool for political parties - this will be the first step. Mr Cameron - If you want women to vote for you - don't give us "all-women" short-lists - give us a choice and please look at the real issues in this country and tell us how you will fix Broken Britain.
Comment by Menna on October 21 17:16

I agree. Women should be chosen on merit not because voters have no other choice. How are we ever going to re educate people if women are forced on them as candidates?
Comment by Jacqueline on October 24 21:43

Doesn't "Currently, there are 19 female Tory MPs" tell you something? The majority of the time, the Conservative government doesn't speak to what women need (even Sam Cam in THAT lovely frock can't spin that).

I'd suggest Mr Cameron's shortfall of women MPs is a result of his party's politics and he can't fix that by vote rigging. A conservative government represents the "haves" - and sadly, ladies, we aint quite there yet...
Comment by S on October 29 14:10

I would never vote for a woman who was chosen to stand just because she is a woman. Pick the best person for the job regardless of sex, age etc.. I would vote against any candidate if they had been selected from an all woman panel
Comment by aj on December 21 13:02

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