Interesting anecdote in the Telegraph's Spy column today. Apparently John Maples MP suggested to Battersea Conservatives that they should consider voluntarily choosing an all-woman shortlist:
"He pointed out that if we did so, then David Cameron would be sure to pay us lots of visits. At that point, his pleading became rather half-hearted as he – jokingly, I hope – offered us sweets in return for going down that route."
All-women shortlists are the only route available to Associations who want to retain their usual selection procedure of having a members vote, although until now there hasn't been any indication that the Party would encourage their use.
Deputy Editor
