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Liberal Democrat minister rues party's record on female MPs Liberal Democrat minister rues party's record on female MPs
(about 21 hours later)
The Liberal Democrats may have to consider introducing positive discrimination to boost their number of female MPs after the next election and combat a "deeply frustrating" lack of women in parliament, one of the party's cabinet ministers has said.The Liberal Democrats may have to consider introducing positive discrimination to boost their number of female MPs after the next election and combat a "deeply frustrating" lack of women in parliament, one of the party's cabinet ministers has said.
The party has traditionally rejected all-women shortlists as out of keeping with its values, but Ed Davey told the Guardian that the Lib Dem record on female MPs was "not good enough" and alternatives may have to be considered after 2015.The party has traditionally rejected all-women shortlists as out of keeping with its values, but Ed Davey told the Guardian that the Lib Dem record on female MPs was "not good enough" and alternatives may have to be considered after 2015.
The energy secretary was speaking amid fears that the Lib Dems could lose more women MPs at the next election, and after it emerged that Sarah Teather, one of the party's most high-profile women MPs, would be standing down from her Brent Central seat. Several of the party's six other women MPs face tough fights in marginal seats.The energy secretary was speaking amid fears that the Lib Dems could lose more women MPs at the next election, and after it emerged that Sarah Teather, one of the party's most high-profile women MPs, would be standing down from her Brent Central seat. Several of the party's six other women MPs face tough fights in marginal seats.
Speaking to the Guardian at the end of the party's successful annual conference in Glasgow, Davey – whose wife, Emily, has stood unsuccessfully for parliament several times – said he strongly supports current programmes to encourage more female MPs but is growing concerned the party may have to do more to redress the balance. "Progress has not been good enough on getting more female and ethnic minority MPs. Everybody in the party finds it deeply frustrating.Speaking to the Guardian at the end of the party's successful annual conference in Glasgow, Davey – whose wife, Emily, has stood unsuccessfully for parliament several times – said he strongly supports current programmes to encourage more female MPs but is growing concerned the party may have to do more to redress the balance. "Progress has not been good enough on getting more female and ethnic minority MPs. Everybody in the party finds it deeply frustrating.
"Current efforts to get more female MPs without positive discrimination are rightly being tested to destruction. I would think long and hard about positive discrimination if it doesn't work next time.""Current efforts to get more female MPs without positive discrimination are rightly being tested to destruction. I would think long and hard about positive discrimination if it doesn't work next time."
The party already has the worst gender balance of the three major parties. With seven women out of 57 MPs, the proportion of 12% compares with 16% for the Conservatives, after David Cameron temporarily brought in an "A-list" to promote women ahead of the 2010 election. Of Labour MPs, 31% are women, supported by a policy of female-only shortlists in some constituencies.The party already has the worst gender balance of the three major parties. With seven women out of 57 MPs, the proportion of 12% compares with 16% for the Conservatives, after David Cameron temporarily brought in an "A-list" to promote women ahead of the 2010 election. Of Labour MPs, 31% are women, supported by a policy of female-only shortlists in some constituencies.
The Lib Dem lack of female representation goes all the way to the top, with no women among Nick Clegg's five-strong cabinet team and just three female MPs holding government jobs: Jo Swinson, Lynne Featherstone and Jenny Willott.The Lib Dem lack of female representation goes all the way to the top, with no women among Nick Clegg's five-strong cabinet team and just three female MPs holding government jobs: Jo Swinson, Lynne Featherstone and Jenny Willott.
The party has no plans to experiment with all-women shortlists prior to the election, because it is trying to solve the problem through its candidate leadership programme – a scheme to mentor new politicians from a variety of backgrounds.The party has no plans to experiment with all-women shortlists prior to the election, because it is trying to solve the problem through its candidate leadership programme – a scheme to mentor new politicians from a variety of backgrounds.
The Lib Dems are also under pressure to prove they listen to the concerns of women after the party was hit by a sexual harassment scandal earlier this year.The Lib Dems are also under pressure to prove they listen to the concerns of women after the party was hit by a sexual harassment scandal earlier this year.
At the time, Clegg admitted the party failed to do enough to investigate allegations made by female activists that Lord Rennard, the party's former chief executive, had behaved inappropriately. The peer denies the accusations.At the time, Clegg admitted the party failed to do enough to investigate allegations made by female activists that Lord Rennard, the party's former chief executive, had behaved inappropriately. The peer denies the accusations.
However, many in the grassroots of the party are strongly opposed to the idea of positive discrimination. A recent survey by the Lib Dem Voice website found two-thirds of party members are opposed to all-women shortlists, compared with just a quarter in favour.However, many in the grassroots of the party are strongly opposed to the idea of positive discrimination. A recent survey by the Lib Dem Voice website found two-thirds of party members are opposed to all-women shortlists, compared with just a quarter in favour.
Lorely Burt, MP for Solihull and chair of the Liberal Democrat Women group, said she believed that the party should continue with its existing approach to selecting candidates. Burt, whose own majority is just 175, said: "We can do what we had last time, which is have 40% of our best target seats with women fighting them, but we didn't win them.Lorely Burt, MP for Solihull and chair of the Liberal Democrat Women group, said she believed that the party should continue with its existing approach to selecting candidates. Burt, whose own majority is just 175, said: "We can do what we had last time, which is have 40% of our best target seats with women fighting them, but we didn't win them.
"Unless we win some more seats we are not going to get more women. It's a function of the first-past-the-post system which we fought on. We are as frustrated as anyone. We've got an excellent training programme targeting getting underrepresented individuals from women to ethnic minorities to disability groups to LGBT candidates … into winnable seats but we've still got to win them.""Unless we win some more seats we are not going to get more women. It's a function of the first-past-the-post system which we fought on. We are as frustrated as anyone. We've got an excellent training programme targeting getting underrepresented individuals from women to ethnic minorities to disability groups to LGBT candidates … into winnable seats but we've still got to win them."
Another MP arguing for considering a change in the way candidates are chosen is Norman Lamb, the care minister. He too said the party may need to resort to more positive action to bring in more women, although he was "not particularly keen" on all-women shortlists.Another MP arguing for considering a change in the way candidates are chosen is Norman Lamb, the care minister. He too said the party may need to resort to more positive action to bring in more women, although he was "not particularly keen" on all-women shortlists.
"I tend to support exploring ways to take positive action because it's self-evident that our approach so far hasn't achieved a proper balance.""I tend to support exploring ways to take positive action because it's self-evident that our approach so far hasn't achieved a proper balance."
He said he was also concerned that the "macho and aggressive" atmosphere of politics deters too many women from putting their names forward.He said he was also concerned that the "macho and aggressive" atmosphere of politics deters too many women from putting their names forward.
Lady Grender, who was press secretary to former leader Lord Ashdown, said one critical proposal is trying to get female candidates to stand in seats where Lib Dem MPs, such as Sir Alan Beith, are retiring. "Because we're so democratic and for all sorts of small liberal reasons, we haven't imposed all-women shortlists, it's always down to the constituency," she said.Lady Grender, who was press secretary to former leader Lord Ashdown, said one critical proposal is trying to get female candidates to stand in seats where Lib Dem MPs, such as Sir Alan Beith, are retiring. "Because we're so democratic and for all sorts of small liberal reasons, we haven't imposed all-women shortlists, it's always down to the constituency," she said.
Linda Jack, who has fought several elections as a Lib Dem candidate and chairs the Liberal Left group, said it "has to be a worry" that the scandal will discourage new female candidates. She argued that all-women shortlists are worth considering, despite the fact they are a "clunky instrument".Linda Jack, who has fought several elections as a Lib Dem candidate and chairs the Liberal Left group, said it "has to be a worry" that the scandal will discourage new female candidates. She argued that all-women shortlists are worth considering, despite the fact they are a "clunky instrument".
But Julian Huppert, Lib Dem MP for Cambridge, said he believed all-women shortlists are "patronising to women". He said it was difficult to stack the odds in favour of female candidates when the Lib Dems have virtually no safe seats."It's about do we want to reflect the society we represent in terms of women, BMEs and class, " she said. "If you say you just rely on the best person always getting the job, you would have to say women and BME candidates are by their very nature inferior, because they are so under-represented." "It's about do we want to reflect the society we represent in terms of women, BMEs and class," she said. "If you say you just rely on the best person always getting the job, you would have to say women and BME candidates are by their very nature inferior, because they are so under-represented."
But Julian Huppert, Lib Dem MP for Cambridge, said he believed all-women shortlists are "patronising to women". He said it was difficult to stack the odds in favour of female candidates when the Lib Dems have virtually no safe seats.
• This article was amended on 19 September 2013. In the earlier version, an editing error meant that a paragraph containing comments by Linda Jack was accidentally – and confusingly – moved to the end of the article, after comments by Julian Huppert.
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