Ludicrous discrimination

Published on Sunday 21 September 2008 21:36

Labour is still peddling the bogus democracy of all-women shortlists for election to parliament (your report, 16 September). This is discrimination. The system rests on the equally bogus logic that half the party's MPs should be women. This not only sets but limits female representation at 50 per cent. Why?

Scottish Labour Women's Network's Ann Henderson adds to the nonsense by insisting that the way to this false equality is to have women standing in "winnable" seats. Where might these be found – Glasgow East?

We are entitled to expect quality to be the selection criterion, not artificial categorisation. In practice, it is ludicrous; what if no woman presents herself, or worse still, what if any who do are less able than available men?

ROBERT DOW

Ormiston Road

Tranent, East Lothian