Labour announce all-woman shortlist for Batley and Spen seat
Last week MP Mike Wood announced he will stand down at the next general election in 2015 after 18 years serving the constituency. A spokesman for Labour confirmed that the national executive committee had decided to select its next candidate from an all-female shortlist to improve the gender balance in the party. In Dewsbury and Mirfield, Labour candidate Paula Sheriff was chosen from a similar shortlist to contest Simon Reevell’s seat. The shortlists aim to improve the gender balance in the party.
What do you think? Are all-women shortlists needed to address the lack of female MPs?