Labour doesn't have the balls for election

[Mon Ami Mate]

Apparently it is unreasonable to feel that you don't care what genitalia your MP has, so long as they are good at their job...

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ALL-FEMALE SHORTLIST IS DRAWN UP FOR BRISTOL EAST MP SEAT
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11:00 - 27 January 2005
Labour will have a women-only shortlist for the Bristol East seat, it has emerged. It became vacant when Jean Corston decided to stand down on health grounds before the run-up to the next general election, expected to be held in May.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Post, Labour's powerful National Executive Committee has decided on an all-female shortlist for the seat, which Mrs Corston retained with a 13,392 majority at the 2001 general election. It will draw up the list together with the party's regional director and the Constituency Labour Party.

This means the candidate could be a local, regional or national figure. Among the Bristol possibles are Cabinet Councillor Helen Holland and former council leader Diane Bunyan.

Cabinet Councillor Robin Moss, who represents Easton ward and was hoping to put his name forward for the seat, said: "I'm in full agreement with all-women shortlists so, although I am personally disappointed, it would be hypocritical of me not to agree with what's been decided.

"I think all-women shortlists are important to make sure we get more women in the House of Commons so the decisions that are taken are more representative of the people that MPs serve."

Party spokesman Luke Holland said: "We are committed to making a reality of our pledge to increase the number of women in all our elected bodies - not just because percentages are important, but because women make a very real difference to the functions of Parliament and the policies it delivers.

"We have therefore put in place selection mechanisms designed to ensure that there is a marked increase in the number of women selected to fight winnable seats at the next general election."

A statement from the Bristol East Constituency Labour Party said: "We will be working with the NEC to produce a shortlist of women candidates from which the constituency will select our next Labour MP."

Tory prospective candidate Julia Manning said: "I am very sad that local people cannot choose who they want based on merit and for them to be restricted on gender. It also undermines women because it infers they would not be selected on merit and have to be given an advantage of not standing against men."

She said she agreed there should be more women MPs in the House of Commons but believes the roots of the issue should be examined as well as encouraging more women to stand.

Liberal Democrat prospective candidate Phil James said: "I don't mind how the Labour Party chooses a candidate as long as it is done legally and properly. I will be happy to challenge whoever they put forward to contest the seat."

Mrs Corston said her decision to stand down was mainly due to the injuries to her ankles she suffered when she fell in the House of Commons just over 18 months ago. The 62-year-old was selected to contest the Bristol East seat 15 years ago and first won it for Labour at the 1992 election.