Cameron 'plans all-women lists'

[DaveWood]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8314322.stm

I thought we'd seen all this die out in the 90s!

[chaggle]

Can't get in without a bit of help can they?

And Miss Widdecombe told the BBC: "I think it's very bad for women because I believe that every woman in Parliament should be able to look every man in Parliament, from the prime minister downwards, in the eye and to know she got there on exactly the same basis."
"If she can't do that she's a second class citizen," she said.
She said parties should do more to encourage more women to apply in the first place as in her experience, far more men tended to apply which meant "it is not surprising the "statistical fallout" was that there were more male MPs.

She's right.

[DaveWood]

Loathe as I am to agree with her.

But even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[bindeweede]

From that BBC article.

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

So will he introduce ethnic-minority only shortlists?

[Harryprice]

It was the Tories, in Totnes, who tried the idea of primaries to select candidates. It was hailed as a success but this latest development seems to be going the other way. It says here that:

"One hundred people applied for the job of replacing the sitting Tory MP, Anthony Steen, who is standing down following controversy about his expenses. The local party whittled it down to three and then, encouraged by Conservative central office, put it out to public postal ballot rather than choosing the candidate themselves, as is normal."

As it happens, a woman won. Surely this is the way to go, not tokenism and discrimination.

[DaveWood]

It was the Tories, in Totnes, who tried the idea of primaries to select candidates. It was hailed as a success but this latest development seems to be going the other way. It says here that:

"One hundred people applied for the job of replacing the sitting Tory MP, Anthony Steen, who is standing down following controversy about his expenses. The local party whittled it down to three and then, encouraged by Conservative central office, put it out to public postal ballot rather than choosing the candidate themselves, as is normal."

As it happens, a woman won. Surely this is the way to go, not tokenism and discrimination.

There is a good case for public primaries. Not that it's done much for turnout in the US.

[Harryprice]

There is a good case for public primaries. Not that it's done much for turnout in the US.

Of course, they could still fiddle the short list that the public voted on. I've got a feeling the problem politicians have with primaries is cost, not to mention the risk that the 'wrong' people could win!

[Fiona]

Do people actually want to move in the direction of the american system?

[Graham Lappin]

Do people actually want to move in the direction of the american system?

Look at where my location is and then tell me why not?

I am a Brit but in the US for a little while. One thing I have concluded whilst being out here is that the assumption that British Democracy is the best should be severely challenged.

[DaveWood]

Look at where my location is and then tell me why not?

I am a Brit but in the US for a little while. One thing I have concluded whilst being out here is that the assumption that British Democracy is the best should be severely challenged.

Wohoho!

There is a great deal wrong with the British system, but one strength it has is that it's not the American system!