Widdecombe attacks all-female shortlists

**6ame** · 21st-August-2009

Well sort of, she attacks the idea of shortlists for women and minorities, full story here.

Tory MP Ann Widdecombe has said David Cameron's changes to the way candidates are selected will mean more "second-class citizens" in the Commons.
The former Home Office minister said her party leader's "A-list" to ensure more female and ethnic minority choices was "completely misguided".
"We have gone for category rather than ability," Miss Widdecombe added.
But the MP, who is standing down at the next election, told Total Politics that Mr Cameron was a "fantastic leader".
The Conservative Party's A-list, which Mr Cameron has described as "positive action", is aimed at getting more female and ethnic minority candidates.

The party leader has also said it is a "realistic aspiration" to give at least a third of ministerial jobs to women if the Tories take power.
Miss Widdecombe, who recently stood unsuccessfully to become Speaker of the Commons, said: "I think he's wrong. It's been well known for a long time that David and I have not agreed on candidate selection.
"I think he's a fantastic leader - he's winning. But all leaders get some things wrong and I think our approach - which hasn't just been David's - to candidate selection over the last few years has been completely misguided.

"We have gone for category rather than ability. We're looking for more women.
"I'm all for more women. I'm all for more members of the ethnic communities. I'm all for more anythings as long as they get there on merit.
"I believe, as a woman, that every woman in Parliament should be able to look every man from the prime minister downwards in the eye and to think she got there on exactly the same basis that he got there.
"And if she can't she's a second-class citizen. We're going to have a Conservative Party full of second-class citizens."
Miss Widdecombe, who is standing down as MP for Maidstone and The Weald, said the Tory candidate to replace her at the next election, Helen Grant, would have won the nomination on merit, regardless of her gender.
The party recently trialled an "open primary" to select its candidate for the seat of Totnes in Devon.
GP Sarah Wollaston was chosen after the party sent out 69,000 postal ballots to voters in the constituency, rather than limiting the decision to Conservative association members.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Under David Cameron, the Conservative Party has broadened the base of Conservative candidates, attracting highly talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
"We have also led the way in introducing open, democratic and transparent selection processes, including holding the UK's first open postal primary."

She's brilliant, she's always been against that, probably because she's always got where she has on merit.

**Daveyone** · 21st-August-2009

Here she is again look!

**byslexic_danana** · 21st-August-2009

She may LOOK like a feminist, but unlike most female leaders, she doesn't lead FOR women.

**6ame** · 21st-August-2009

All the way through my school years, Margaret Thatcher was the PM, she was fairly elected and chosen by her party as leader, without any need for shortlists or affirmative action, I think she has a lot to do with my confidence in women being able to make it if they want. It's a shame that feminists don't share my, Thatcher's and Widdecombe's confidence in women's ability.

I can see Ann's point, from where she stands, she deserves to be where she is, she can't possibly respect some snotty-nosed halfwit who only got to where she is because of favouritism, especially since Ann herself certainly didn't need it.

Shortlists are obviously unfair against men and democracy itself, but they have to be the biggest insult to any intelligent, capable woman, I would certainly be offended if there were white Scottish male shortlists, although in today's government, that certainly wouldn't be necessary

**Celtic Druid** · 21st-August-2009

"I believe, as a woman, that every woman in Parliament should be able to look every man from the prime minister downwards in the eye and to think she got there on exactly the same basis that he got there.

She's wrongly assuming those women who fill positions without merit might be beset by conscience or integrity. They won't! Not for a nanosecond. Such women will believe they are entitled or they somehow deserve it because of some mythical oppressive past.

**Zuberi** · 21st-August-2009

I'm sorry but the guy in the gray tuxedo looks like he fell asleep trying to comb his hair!

**Daveyone** · 24th-August-2009

I wrote to Ann Widdecombe 2 weeks ago as she was to appear on local radio and e-mailed her there also. This past weekend I recieved a very polite reply, and although she could not go into detail as I am not one of her constituance, it is clear she is aware that CAFCASS is a failure and recognises all the concerns I have raised esp in Family Law but I am sure in many of the related issues discussed here. You may be aware she retires at the next election June 2010 but in the meantime she is worth lobbying directly if you live in Maidstone in Kent or via your own MP
http://www.writetothem.com/who?pc=ME...ontact%2Bmy%2B
or just entre you own postecde to find your own representatives;
http://www.writetothem.com/

I have also written to Nigel Farage who you will note is in the same constituancy as Ann Widdy and has the prospect of being the next MP and who knows maybe the new PM So I will be interested to learn his party views on Family Law and related anti- men policies

I think he would be a better prospect then either Brown Cameron or Clegg

We did not win WW" to hand our resourses to Europe on a plate!

**Feckless** · 24th-August-2009

Quote from 6ame

All the way through my school years, Margaret Thatcher was the PM, she was fairly elected and chosen by her party as leader, without any need for shortlists or affirmative action, I think she has a lot to do with my confidence in women being able to make it if they want. It's a shame that feminists don't share my, Thatcher's and Widdecombe's confidence in women's ability.

I Merkel that...I mean I second that...

**johnkimble1** · 26th-August-2009

She really is a politician who's willing to speak the truth. Obviously she's in a somewhat privileged position because if a man were to have the guts to say such things then he'd just be labeled as sexist. However given such insightful and accurate comments come from a woman the feminists can't scream "sexist" or "rapist" or whatever and people are forced to actually look at the facts. Thus her stance really is invaluable.