Obviously correct re fixer. But in my experience we have some really excellent candidates - by any standards - who happen to be asian and happen to be women. An AWS or twenty in winnables massively increases the chances of selection of one of these talented individuals and I'm all for it. An AWS also reduces the risk of an unwelcome male parachutist interfering, but not regretably the distaff model.

Withington shortlist already looking excellent, with around one week left now to get the papers in.

It will be a long and difficult campaign but I do feel confident that the pillock incumbent - MP's Fraud Warning, indeed - will be lightly battered and somethingly burnt toast.

Close observers in Rochdale meanwhile are wondering how it took two weeks for the horror story to emerge and expressing surprise that this was just before the supposed final hustings, meaning that there were the best part of three weeks to work the whole constituency list in a postal vote situation.

That Rowen's boy is backing Simon to get the nod probably indicates that Afzal is the more feared candidate, particularly as boundary changes ought to give a marginal boost. Mr Khan of course is in the matinee idol mode of Shilpa while Simon er isn't.

And while Afzal's anti war credentials are impeccable and trump any detectable effort from Rowen - apart from being a Fib Dem - while Simon's anti war credentials have been I think hidden under a Bush-hell. Rather like the four and counting NL ministers who are realising this was not a good war to have started or a good war plan or a good peace plan for that matter.
 

PS I'm not sure what the petition is about really. Getting good and articulately pro-AWS *delegates* to attend the CLP GC which makes the recommendation or considers the recommendation from London LP ... well that surely is a better commitment to seek than names on a petition. Though that may persuade some waverers. Are the party minded to have that as an AWS? Rochdale btw was down as possible AWS but didn't go there. And there was amazingly low interest from women candidates. Is the AWS system reducing participation by women in Open selections? Probably. It's not cheap running a selection campaign in a winnable.
 

It is our elders and betters on the NEC who decide whether a seat is an AWS or not.
 

"And there was amazingly low interest from women candidates. Is the AWS system reducing participation by women in Open selections? Probably"

I think you're probably right. For ex in the run up of 2005 GE it was said that just 1 woman applied to Copeland (a Labour held seat).
 

And why not if they have half seats in the first place. I am more than happy with 50/50 but raising the proportion of seats held by women above 50%. Is that not the gender discrimination that they were complaining about in the first place.
 

yes, parburypolitica, I can see the logic of your argument.

Last time IIRC the only "open" seat in Wales ended up selecting a woman...pretty ironic considering the Blaenau Gwent debacle
 

I understand from LabourHome that Ealing Southall GC voted to have an AWS.

The regional boards of the party are responsible for deciding which seats in their area will be AWS/open lists using criteria about what % of Labour women MPs they have.

parburypolitica - worrying about having more than 50/50 is a bit strange just at the present time - we only have 28% Labour women in the House of Commons. Let's worry when we get nearer 45% or so.
 

We should remember that that the last word on such things is generally delegated to a Labour body lower in the hierachy than the august NEC themselves. A regional board (or their employees in the office) or even an LGC generally have a good deal of interest.

Meanwhile I hear on the grapevine that a certain NEC-er from Salford was so sure that Ian would beat Barbara that he advised people to move to other employment. At least one did. And Peter was wrong as it goes. He is also certain that Hazel has the backing in Salford Central. I think he is right about that. But Hazel will work and organise like mad to be sure of the result.

Still more news. Whereas the selection in Salford was expected to crank up in Feb and March there is now talk of a five month hiatus.
 

parburypolitica - worrying about having more than 50/50 is a bit strange just at the present time - we only have 28% Labour women in the House of Commons. Let's worry when we get nearer 45% or so.


At the last general election significantly more than half of Labour's new intake were women. They were also to white with only Dawn Butler elected as the only ethnic minority women.
 

Incidently I think Dawn Butler came through on a all black shortlist not an AWS which have never selected an ethnic minority women
 

"Incidently I think Dawn Butler came through on a all black shortlist not an AWS"

yes, you recall it right. The Brent Central shortlist was Dawn Butler, Razi Rahman, Navin Shah and Mary Faulkes
 

parburypolitica said:
"At the last general election significantly more than half of Labour's new intake were women. They were also to white with only Dawn Butler elected as the only ethnic minority women."

and still only 28% of Labour MPs are women!
 

"and still only 28% of Labour MPs are women!"

So what are you proposing to do about it?

Make all selections 100% female until parity is reached?

Deselecting half the men selected in the 70's and 80's and replacing them with women?
 

"Deselecting half the men selected in the 70's and 80's and replacing them with women? "

Forcing them to have a sex change?
 

I suppose it would make gordon's clunking fist a little more delicate. That said Mrs T's fists were pretty clunking.
 

Deselecting half the men selected in the 70's and 80's and replacing them with women?


OK
 

I dont know why everyone is going on about Sonika. There are other excellent women candidates such as Yasmin Qureshi who ran a magnificinet campaign in Brent East and raised 27 thousand pound for the election. She is absolutely superb
 

That Yasmin Qureshi lost a safe Labour seat might be one reason people do not mention her.