Shattering the Stained Glass Ceiling?

CAMERON PLANS 'ALL-WOMEN LIST'
(BBC)

Conservative party leader David Cameron has made comment of the under-representation of minorities in both race and gender in Parliament and, as such, has compiled a shortlist of exclusively women that are considered higher priority prospective candidates. According to the article, "Mr Cameron made the comments as he, Gordon Brown and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg appeared before a Speaker's Conference - an inquiry by MPs looking at how to increase the representation of women, ethnic minorities, homosexuals and disabled people in the Commons." This is an obvious at the Conservative party's attempt to modernize as to not seem old-fashioned in comparison with the liberal Tories. Tory MP Ann Widdecombe is noted saying that this would, actually, make women second-class citizens. Agreeably, if women must be segregated to a seperate list to be considered legitimately competitive candidates, they are not on par with men in British politics. Britain is known for being rather homologous and measures like this merely emphasizes this stereotype. As Lib Dem Nick Clegg put it, "Our Parliament pretends to represent modern Britain but it doesn't have modern Britain in it."


Link to story at bbc.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8314322.stm