Twenty ideas to encourage more women Tory MPs

On Friday I published the results of a ConHome survey of 1,899 Tory members.  It found massive opposition to All Women Shortlists.  I also asked a question about what measures might be introduced to promote female candidates.  By far the most common answer was something like "Candidates should be chosen on merit only," "The sex of the candidate should not be an issue" and "None, the best person for the job is more important than their gender." Listed below, however, are twenty more specific ideas:

1. End strong arm tactics: "Strong arm tactics can backfire and probably will in some areas".  Another said: "CCO have interfered so much that every Association is suspicious women aren't there on merit.  Stop all positive discimination and go back to a level playing field."
2. Promotional video: Make a YouTube video featuring Priti Patel and Philippa Stroud and our other impressive female candidates. They could explain how they succeeded in becoming candidates.
3. Headhunt from female-dominated backgrounds: "More women attracted onto the Candidates List from careers where women dominate, including teaching and healthcare" plus "Targeting the public sector and small businesses to encourage more women to come forward who are not Westminster centric in their backgrounds."
4. A more balanced candidates list: CHQ putting more women and less men on the approved list in the firstplace.
5. Tackle the financial handicap facing women candidates: "Bursaries for full time mothers who otherwise might not afford the process of candidate selection", "Setting up a scheme to give financial help to PPCs on moderate incomes with child care needs" and "More support for selected candidates in fighting elections so that all candidates can balance family, childcare and the cost of the campaign."
6. Force rich candidates to declare special help: Make candidates declare whether they have had specialist coaching. Many rich men have paid for special help. Associations should know this.
7. Reduce the burdens on candidates: Many female candidates are put off by the endless Association events and the requirement to attend every by election. Allow them to focus on the essential.
8. A more family-friendly House of Commons: Better childminding facilities in House of Commons and more family friendly hours.
9. More protection from the media for MPs and their families: A party leadership that protects MPs when the media mob goes after them. Any mother will have noted that Cameron threw his MPs to the wolves.
10. Shadow cabinet mentoring: Every shadow cabinet minister should adopt a female candidate and be encouraged to help her get selected.
11. Move to open primary ballots: It was not an accident that a woman won in Totnes when it was tried.
12. Independent guidance for Associations: At the start of every selection meeting a professional headhunter should talk to the Association about the value of female candidates. If this person is a professional and not a CCHQ functionary they will get a hearing.
13. 'Blind sifting': At sift stage no indication given as to age, sex background etc of candidate.
14. A less macho selection process: No speeches in selection contests. They favour men. Use sofa style interviews.  One respondent wrote: "A selection method that involves more than just the ability to "perform" to a large audience. This is why women don't do well. The entire process is geared up to assess only the ability to perform in a "question time" style arena. Ability to influence legislation, work in committee and connect to constituents is entirely absent from the final stages of the assessment. It is no wonder that we end up with MPs who lack integrity and ability, since they've only been assessed on a single dimension - the ability to charm an audience - which is directly correlated with the ability to manipulate, and almost entirely unconnected with the ability to add real value. We select "talking heads" not good decision makers. It depends whether you want MPs who are good at talking or good at doing. We get the former, but not the latter." Another wrote: "Less focus on just the big meeting. Women are often very good on the doorstep and in chairing, participating in meetings - not just a few gags in a big meeting. As a candidate, the doorstep and meeting side is so very important."
15. Punishment of sexism: Expulsion of any Tory member who asks sexist questions.
16. ConHome should "bless" "sound" candidates: Too many women candidates are newly recruited and we don't know if they are true conservatives. The grassroots trust ConHome and its blessing would carry weight.
17. Pooled selections: Multiple selections - people may be more willing to pick a mixture if they have to pick more than one.   
18. Require constituency selection panels to be balanced: Require the selection panel to be balanced by age and gender and allow them to choose from any number of males and females on a shortlist.
19. Executive committee selection: Revert to selection by constituency executive committee, thus cutting out the large numbers of older women heavily prejudiced against women candidates and especially opposed to women candidates with children.
20. Patience: The number of women candidates has grown a lot in last few years. It will grow again with time. Rushing the issue will leadto inferior women candidates getting selected.

Tim Montgomerie