Half of Scottish Labour Holyrood candidates are women

Scottish Labour has announced that half of all its candidates fighting the Holyrood election are female.

Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Kezia Dugdale MSP has called on other parties to do more for gender equality. Picture: Andrew O'Brien

There are 108 people standing for election for Labour in May, with Scottish leader Kezia Dugdale confirming there was a “perfect 50:50 split” between men and women.

She has now challenged the other parties in the race for the Scottish Parliament to match Labour’s commitment to equality.

Ms Dugdale, speaking ahead of her party’s one-day conference on Saturday, said: “When it comes to women’s representation Labour doesn’t just offer warm words, we deliver. Our list of candidates is a perfect 50:50 split between men and women. It is a list that looks like Scotland.”

She added: “Right now the glass ceiling for women in Scotland has a few cracks in it, but we are nowhere near to breaking it. We should never make the mistake of thinking a woman in Bute House or three female party leaders means it’s job done for women’s equality in Scotland.

“Today I am throwing the gauntlet down to the other parties. If you really believe in better representation of women you need to actually follow through, not just pose for a photo op.”

Candidates for Holyrood can either contest a constituency seat, be on the regional list, or can do both in a bid to increase their chances of being selected.

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