That's the verdict of research carried out by Ipsos-MORI and reported in the News of the World by Jamie Lyons:
"Tory women officials reject pretty female applicants who ask to become MPs — in case they steal their husbands. And male chiefs block them because they fear they will use party funds to buy designer dresses. Tories confessed when quizzed by pollsters Ipsos-MORI. Their report said: “Female party officials don’t particularly want women, especially if they’re attractive. They don’t want their husband spending large amounts of time with them.”
I'll contact Ipsos-MORI today and report back with more as soon as I can find anything.
I'm certainly suspicious of the findings. Fifty to sixty Conservative MPs will be women if we achieve a majority at the next election. That's real progress on the last election. Although CCHQ's ambitions for women candidates have not been completely fulfilled and although prejudice may sometimes be real I doubt it's the principal factor. There is still an underlying problem of women coming forward to be Tory candidates. They are being selected in greater numbers than their representation on the overall candidates' list (not the A-list) would numerically suggest.
Tim Montgomerie
