David Cameron has changed his mind about all-women selection lists for parliamentary candidates. Now he thinks that they are a good thing and will impose them on some constituencies. There is nothing wrong with changing your mind. It may be seen as a sign of strength but it certainly needs a good explanation to convince anyone that it was bad then but is good now.
Positive discrimination is carried out all the time. Politics is about the redistribution of wealth because if the market is left to itself then the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer. The welfare state is all about positive discrimination. So what is wrong with positive discrimination for selecting parliamentary candidates? Firstly this move says that women don't win because life is biased towards men. I think gender is not a factor in making good politicians and so needs no discrimination. If women don't choose to put themselves forward then they will not get selected but the best person should be selected regardless of gender. Secondly it is an imposition from central office. A liberal alternative is to devolve decision-making as per the Eric Pickles blog on Monday.
At the last general election it was heartening to see the result from Blaenau Gwent. Tell locals what they can and cannot do and rebellion occurs.
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