What it’s like to be a Tory woman PPC
Via Iain Dale, I came across this article in yesterday’s Mail on Sunday by Caroline Righton, the Conservative candidate for St Austell and Newquay. Quite why a Tory blogger would want to flag up an article showing what women in their party still have to put up with, I don’t know. Some choice quotes:
Afterwards, much politically incorrect reaction from elderly local Tories who, although resistant to concept of A-list, are secretly intrigued. ‘What did you do, dearie, take all your clothes off?’ asks one. I’m secretly cheered he thinks it would have made a difference.
Apart from a couple of smiling faces, they look unforgiving. I spot several heads shaking in disbelief when I’m clapped. This makes it all the more difficult to discern which of the elderly gents is responsible for sending a text to my mobile phone, saying: ‘Gr8t legs– U gt my vote.’
It’s six years since Fawcett found that “overt discrimination and sexual harassment during the selection process are significant factors in the failure of women to get selected for safe or winnable Conservative seats” (pdf). Then, the researchers heard tales of female candidates being told “I lay awake all night thinking about you”, and “what will your husband do for sex when you’re in Westminster all week?” Is this really very different? Excuse me for thinking that Tory women shouldn’t have to put up with this, and excuse me for feeling sad that this woman in question, Caroline Righton, seems to think these sort of deeply unacceptable comments are just par for the course, even something to be laughed at. She got selected despite them - other women have not. I’m sure parts of my own party are no better; but at least our women have more self-respect than just to accept it.
‘but at least our women have more self-respect than just to accept it.’
Remind me again how many women Labour MPs had the guts to speak up and condemn Prescott’s disgraceful treatment of women?
So far, I can think only of one: Geraldine Smith, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale. The rest just kept quiet about it, or tried to dodge the issue when interviewed.
Competence is the only factor that should determine the selection of canditates for parliamentary, Regional Assembly or local government. Failed women applicants use the excuses of harassment and discrimination to cover up the fact that they are just not up to the job. Not surprisingly, they are all in favour of Positive discrimination in favour of fenmale candidates because this undemocratic process neatly overrides the the matter of their competence. The simple fact is that there are more male elected representatives because they are better at the job than women - in the eyes of the electorate and as proven by experience.