Labour announce all-woman shortlist for Batley and Spen seat

The Labour party will choose from an all-woman shortlist for the Batley and Spen parliamentary race.
By Samantha Robinson
Published 12th Mar 2014, 15:16 BST
Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood will step down after the next general election. (d15091101)Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood will step down after the next general election. (d15091101)
Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood will step down after the next general election. (d15091101)

Last week MP Mike Wood announced he will stand down at the next general election in 2015 after 18 years serving the constituency.
A spokesman for Labour confirmed that the national executive committee had decided to select its next candidate from an all-female shortlist to improve the gender balance in the party.
In Dewsbury and Mirfield, Labour candidate Paula Sheriff was chosen from a similar shortlist to contest Simon Reevell’s seat.
The shortlists aim to improve the gender balance in the party.

What do you think? Are all-women shortlists needed to address the lack of female MPs?

Related topics:BatleyLabourMPsDewsburyMirfield