UKIP backs call for more women MPs

Tony Bennett · 08-07-2008, 12:12 AM

From the UKIP website's home page:

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Latest News Stories

UKIP backs calls for more women MPs

UK Independence Party MP Bob Spink has joined activists at Parliament calling for more women MPs on the 80th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.

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COMMENT:

Clearly, UKIP is leading by example

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Anthony Butcher · 08-07-2008, 12:13 AM

UK Independence Party - UKIP backs calls for more women MPs

Quote:

UK Independence Party MP Bob Spink has joined activists at Parliament calling for more women MPs on the 80th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote.
Dr Spink said: "We must encourage women to come forward and people to vote for them on their merits. If this happened, they might well outnumber the men in Parliament."

Women currently make up just 20% of the House of Commons, a figure virtually unchanged in a generation. The Electoral Reform Society has revealed that despite efforts by all parties not enough has been done to ensure that an increase in women MPs at the next General Election is even a possibility.

The society's chief executive, Dr Ken Ritchie, said: "Whichever way you spin it, the next election simply cannot prove a watershed moment for women in politics. Progress has always been hard fought, and despite the rhetoric, the parties are simply not doing enough."

Dr Spink said: "I have encouraged the UKIP National Executive Committee to find ways to attract more UKIP women candidates for the next Euro elections and I have great hope our shortlists will average over 25% women.

"But we should aim for 50%, consistent with respecting people’s democratic choice on the merit of the candidate, whatever their gender."

Beatrice Barleon, Women’s Officer at the Electoral Reform Society said: "Our voting system has consistently failed women and minority groups. The evidence from around the world is unambiguous – where there is a fairer, more proportional system, countries have more women and minority representatives."

Anthony Butcher · 08-07-2008, 12:36 AM

I have to say that this is one area I thought that UKIP would always avoid. The sex of an MP is utterly irrelevant to their ability to do the job, just like their skin colour.

And I can't believe that the Electoral Reform Society can get away with publishing such gibberish as "Our voting system has consistently failed women and minority groups". How can a voting system that makes no mention of sex make any difference at all? It is absolute nonsense. Proportional systems all, I believe, use list systems for elections, so any increase in numbers of women and ethnic minorities is by deliberate manipulation of the lists for PR purposes, not because the public are voting for the best candidate for the job.

For Spink to be associated with such rubbish is annoying. Aiming for "50%" women? So we should also be aiming for full age representation too? What about religious views? Disabilities? Vegetarians? Vegans? Manchester United fans? Homosexuals? What's so special about being female?

Either you want the best person for the job or you don't. Saying that there aren't enough women effectively says that men are incapable of doing the job of representing women. By inference, he presumably doesn't think that straight men can represent gay men, that white men can't represent black men and so on. In other words, he presumably doesn't believe in representative democracy at all.

What he should have said is that the number and quality of candidates is dropping dramatically because the number of people in political parties has dropped from 1.7 million in 1980 to just 600,000 in 2008. The problem in British politics is not the lack of women or lack of ethnic minorities, it is the lack of people.

He could also have said that given that MPs have so much less work to do than they used to, they could halve the number of MPs anyway.

Bob Spink and UKIP should have stayed well clear of this political correctness nonsense. Spink is impressing me less and less.

Anthony Butcher · 08-07-2008, 12:41 AM

And in and absolutely astonishing display of joined up thinking, we have this story in the same section on the UKIP front page, directly underneath:
UK Independence Party - MEP slams 'anti-discrimination' plan

Quote:

MEP slams 'anti-discrimination' plan
Government proposals to use the law to encourage businesses to employ and promote more women and ethnic minorities have been condemned as "racist and sexist" by a UK Independence Party MEP.

Not all discrimination is bad: Read Tim Worstall's view
"Positive discrimination is still discrimination, so selection on the basis of sex or race is indeed sexist or racist," said Yorkshire MEP Godfrey Bloom after equality minister Harriet Harman announced the proposals.

"I personally think discrimination on the basis of colour or gender is abhorrent and I'm staggered that a minister, particularly of a Labour government, thinks it's acceptable."

Mr Bloom also attacked the plan as "another piece of legislation which will add to the unbelievable burden on small business."

He added: "A good employment lawyer costs £350 an hour for the employer, while the employee only has to find the price of a stamp, and with costs almost unheard of in these cases it's another reason for small businesses not to expand and employ more people.

"When will ministers realise they should be deregulating, not continually interfering?"

You couldn't make it up.

Populist Lee · 08-07-2008, 12:52 AM

I wonder when Spinky will really drop UKIP in it; good and proper.

What are the odds that most UKIPers will be glad to say "Good Riddance" when he loses his seat at the Election??

HM · 08-07-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Populist Lee

I wonder when Spinky will really drop UKIP in it; good and proper.

What are the odds that most UKIPers will be glad to say "Good Riddance" when he loses his seat at the Election??

If UKIP even exists in 2010...

Mikeuk · 08-07-2008, 06:47 AM

We had heard that Sprink liked women...

We don't need any more women MPs or any more women anything, come to that.

Women's Lib has been an unmitigated disaster and has resulted in police forces and armed forces that are no longer fit for purpose.

Mikeuk · 08-07-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UkipHM

If UKIP even exists in 2010...

Oh dear.

I see you have changed your avatar. Do we no longer enjoy the honour of your support?

Bob FM · 08-07-2008, 07:21 AM

I think this view on it's own is not really a problem. It is right that women who represent about 50% of the population she be able to stand as candidates, but only on merit. I do not believe in positive discrimination at all, whether by, gender,race,ability/disability etc. People should be selected on merit pure and simple. Who decides that merit of course is another issue.

Mikeuk · 08-07-2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob FM

I think this view on it's own is not really a problem. It is right that women who represent about 50% of the population she be able to stand as candidates, but only on merit. I do not believe in positive discrimination at all, whether by, gender,race,ability/disability etc. People should be selected on merit pure and simple. Who decides that merit of course is another issue.

And that's the difference between us and Cameron's 'Tories'.

08-07-2008, 12:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tony Bennett Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 791	UKIP backs call for more women MPs From the UKIP website's home page: +++++++++++++++ Latest News Stories UKIP backs calls for more women MPs UK Independence Party MP Bob Spink has joined activists at Parliament calling for more women MPs on the 80th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. =============== COMMENT: Clearly, UKIP is leading by example ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

08-07-2008, 12:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 9,731 Party: None	I have to say that this is one area I thought that UKIP would always avoid. The sex of an MP is utterly irrelevant to their ability to do the job, just like their skin colour. And I can't believe that the Electoral Reform Society can get away with publishing such gibberish as "Our voting system has consistently failed women and minority groups". How can a voting system that makes no mention of sex make any difference at all? It is absolute nonsense. Proportional systems all, I believe, use list systems for elections, so any increase in numbers of women and ethnic minorities is by deliberate manipulation of the lists for PR purposes, not because the public are voting for the best candidate for the job. For Spink to be associated with such rubbish is annoying. Aiming for "50%" women? So we should also be aiming for full age representation too? What about religious views? Disabilities? Vegetarians? Vegans? Manchester United fans? Homosexuals? What's so special about being female? Either you want the best person for the job or you don't. Saying that there aren't enough women effectively says that men are incapable of doing the job of representing women. By inference, he presumably doesn't think that straight men can represent gay men, that white men can't represent black men and so on. In other words, he presumably doesn't believe in representative democracy at all. What he should have said is that the number and quality of candidates is dropping dramatically because the number of people in political parties has dropped from 1.7 million in 1980 to just 600,000 in 2008. The problem in British politics is not the lack of women or lack of ethnic minorities, it is the lack of people. He could also have said that given that MPs have so much less work to do than they used to, they could halve the number of MPs anyway. Bob Spink and UKIP should have stayed well clear of this political correctness nonsense. Spink is impressing me less and less. __________________ If you care about what's in your food and where it comes from, then get it labelled! Label My Food - http://www.labelmyfood.org.uk

08-07-2008, 12:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Populist Lee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dorset Posts: 1,911 Party: Other	I wonder when Spinky will really drop UKIP in it; good and proper. What are the odds that most UKIPers will be glad to say "Good Riddance" when he loses his seat at the Election?? __________________ ENGLISH POPULISM Stands as the only obstacle in the path of the Plutocrats who seek to reduce all the Peoples of the World to Economic and Political Slavery under Globalism POPULISM MEANS WHAT YOU WANT IS WHAT YOU GET Last edited by Populist Lee; 08-07-2008 at 01:05 AM.

08-07-2008, 06:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mikeuk Uber Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fareham Posts: 5,521	We had heard that Sprink liked women... We don't need any more women MPs or any more women anything, come to that. Women's Lib has been an unmitigated disaster and has resulted in police forces and armed forces that are no longer fit for purpose. __________________ 'We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say "We must not wage war." It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace.' Martin Luther King Jr 1964

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08-07-2008, 07:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
Bob FM Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Marston Swindon Posts: 1,119	I think this view on it's own is not really a problem. It is right that women who represent about 50% of the population she be able to stand as candidates, but only on merit. I do not believe in positive discrimination at all, whether by, gender,race,ability/disability etc. People should be selected on merit pure and simple. Who decides that merit of course is another issue.