There’s been a lot of discussion recently on Lib Dem Voice about our politicians, their quality and their background.
Rick Muir said we need to pluralise the routes into politics and open up local party selection processes to bring in a wider diversity of people. Afzal Shaikh called for “wider BME representation to mirror our modern society” and Sara Scarlett kicked off this comment-a-thon when she said we should “make politics more attractive to the professional class.”
Have your say on further issues of representation:
The Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary Representation has now launched an online forum, in order to seek views from the public on the following questions:
• What are the reasons why more women, people from ethnic minorities and disabled people do not become MPs?
• Why do people think that to succeed in public life they have to hide aspects of themselves?
• What would persuade you to represent your community?
• What actions could be taken to address disparities in representation, and who should be responsible for change?
• What are the problems and practical difficulties encountered, at any point in the process, for those in under-represented groups who wish to stand for election?
You can access the forum here or via the www.parliament.uk website.
The forum will run until 23 June 2009. Comments from the forum will be considered by the Conference as it looks to find practical ways to tackle under-representation.
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