Over at Wales Home, Daran Hill discusses the state of play with regards to gender balance in the National Assembly for Wales. He concludes:
Indeed, only in the Welsh Liberal Democrats can the issue of gender representation be said to be settled at the moment. It remains an issue in Plaid, is emerging as a key concern for the Conservatives and is a central discussion point in Welsh Labour both in terms of future candidate selections and in terms of the election for Rhodri Morgan’s successor, whether or not a woman candidate ultimately stands.
He is right to be concerned and also to draw attention to the short term fix that is positive discrimination. It is a route that neither the Welsh Liberal Democrats nor the Tories have gone down in Wales, the difference being that we have been more fortunate than Nick Bourne’s party in having enough high quality female candidates to choose from and a membership open minded enough to select them as candidates in winnable positions and to support them to victory.
In the long term all the parties have a problem in making sure that sufficient talent comes forward. The situation is far from settled for the Welsh Liberal Democrats. Identifying and nurturing female candidates and people from ethnic minorities is a resource and people intensive task but it is the only long-term solution to getting a representative Assembly, Parliament and local Councils. A necessary building block to this aim is to get a good mix of people working at all levels in the party, whether as volunteers or paid staff. That experience can help them to develop and to gain a more political outlook.
That approach requires investment in training, mentoring and financial support to ensure that promising talent of all sexes and all ethnic groups are able to fulfill their potential. Short cuts like positive action can help but ultimately the only sustainable way forward to is grow the party and to find, encourage and support those who will make good elected representatives.
For more information on becoming a candidate for the Welsh Liberal Democarts contact our HQ, there is also further information and support for women availiable via the Campaign for Gender Balance.
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