No idea who this is but she is on the W2W web site .
“ Women2Win Director, Lorraine Fullbrook said: ………….Women2Win was set up to help more Conservative women get elected to Parliament and we are already showing signs of improvement in the number of women selected to stand at the next election. Long gone are the days where we can all stick our heads in the sand and think that the level of female representation in the House of Commons is acceptable".
Well that all sounds good doesn’t it but Justin Hinchcliffe has got an absolutely fascinating post up at the moment . (See Hunter and Shooter on the blog roll ). Its really quite acerbic, for him, he’s a very ”progressive” modernising ,Liberal- Conservative so this final comment should ring some alarm bells.
“Most of the them are aged between 25 and 45, have rich husbands or partners and see politics and the Conservative Party as a “fun hobby”. I know of one young woman, who seriously lacks people skills and political nous, who has been short-listed for a very winnable seat. What the devil is going on? After almost 10 years of listening and watching Blair’s Brain-Dead Babes in the Chamber, could Dave’s Dishy Dolls be even worse? The jury’s out.”Justin Hinchcliffe
He is obviously somewhat unimpressed although the allegation of being between 25 and 45 is “wide ranging “. That actually would include Myself and Justin which is a very big tent indeed . He has obviously touched a nerve though . This is one of the contributions on this subject
“Justin but you are bang on the nail with it, couldn't agree with you more. To my certain knowledge there is one of Dave's Debs who at the last GE got the worst possible report from both her Assoc and from the relevant area team but is still short listed for a safe seat purely because she put a lot of effort, not into campaigning, but into shmoozing W2W and its' leading lights”
Matt Davies
This chimes in rather neatly with the first quote on the W2W site
Sunday Herald: May points the way ahead for Scottish businesswomen
"One interesting lesson from women2win has been how important networking is, and giving each other a helping hand. Women have to catch up on delivering for each other,"
Sounds to me as if there are some rather unpleasant characters involved . I `d love to know more , who are the shirkers and who is it that is undermining what in the face if it seems like a good idea ? Of course any positive discrimination is always going to cause resentment and I would have expected the women to be sensitive to this.
Details anyone ? I sense there is story here and some digging might be worth while
27 comments:
Like the previous issue Mr. N, you do need to be very careful how you talk about this issue. I am not considering becoming a Tory candidate, but if I were being white male middle aged and middle class - I would be annoyed about all this....not because I don't agree there should be more women and minorities, obviously there should be, but because it might impact on my own future.
You are very serious today Mutley I just picked this up from Justin and I was suprised how cross he was.Perhaps you have spotted the reason ? You seem to sum it up pretty well.
I spotted a post of yours elsewhere and if it was true chin up ...all the best
I get the impression that of the two female Tory candidates in Islington at the last election, the one in the North was considerably more popular with her Association...but the one in the South is now on the priority list...
Of course, since I wasn't around at the time, I cannot vouch for that judgment...
If someone knows people in W2W, perhaps they could draw this post (and Hunter & Shooter's too) to their attention and ask them to comment? If W2W assists with public speaking practice, explaining the candidate selection procedure, policy briefings etc. _ and THEN talent-spots potential high-flyers, then it is a good thing. But if it primarily exists as a female equivalent of the old boy network, then surely it is regressive? Women should not be giving other women 'a helping hand' simply because they are woment any more than men should advance other men based on their gender.
I think that W2W has a big PR problem in the wider Conservative Party. If it is doing good work in imparting skills, knowledge and in talent-spotting then let's hear about it. But if it's just about 'networking' and sexist preferment of any would-be female candidate then it sounds more like a New Labour thing _ and rather passe and sleazy with it.
I didn`t mean to take any credit David Obviously its all Justin I was just interested in what he had to say. Especially coming fro someone like Justin who is such a moderniser...to put it kindly ....bleeding heart Liberal would be another way of putting it .
well "Right on " anyway. something has obviously really got under his skin
Al thats so well remembered I have exactly that impression myself . I think i might ask her and see what I can find out
I spotted a post of yours elsewhere and if it was true chin up ...all the best
Cheers Mr N. yes its true..maybe Im having a sense of humour failure.
So patently wrong and telling that one must tip-toe around such issues.
I am middle-aged now. Can't remember anything other than men being brow-beaten in sitcoms, adverts etc ...
Mr Mania, it is in your priestly nature to worry on behalf of everyone, and we do appreciate it, but you certainly take upon yourself all the woes of the world.
First, you worry that the libertarians are under-valuing and undermining Dave's mission to win the next election. Simultaneously you worry about the implications of the Party becoming fashionable.
I suggest the two are inseperable. As Dave cruises up to 40%, you see the fashion thing everywhere, just like NuLab in the mid 90s. People with no two political braincells to rub together are getting excited about the Party! There are only so seats to be occupied when the music stops, but many more people crowding through the door.
What did you expect? That the arrivistes would respectfully defer to those who kept the trenches warm in the dog days?(sorry, Mut)
Not sure it works like that.
No, I'm not intending to stand for Westminster, but I know that I am more talented than most W2W "wemin" and, in some cases, certain MPs.
Liked David's suggestion that it's the equivalent of an old boy's network. Perhaps I should start Gays2Win and take on W2W - let the handbagging begin!
It's one thing to be on the list and another to be selected by the Association's members, and they can be a mixed bag. Also, life isn't always fair, but I'm sure if you have determination and talent, you will get through. But personality must count too, as well as intelligence. Having good contacts and knowing people in the right place only works to a certain extent, at the end of the day, it is still down to the individual to impress and perform.
I'm not sure what you're trying to say, Ellee. Seems like you are fence-sitting (don't take it too personally). Justin
it is still down to the individual to impress and perform
Part of that may be in crying foul when you are getting a raw deal. My experience is that life is never fair but inpolitics we should at least try to make it so..
Gays2Win and take on W2W - let the handbagging begin
This is up and running in the Liberal part according to Suz. I wouldn`t be at all suprised if the same doesn`t happen in the Tory Party in due course. Its not as if gays are under represented though is it .
I THINK YOU SHOULD BE IN WESTMINSTER JUSTIN..WHY NOT?
Didn't think the poo-faced Dim Lubs had any fun...
Me in Westminster? Tell that to Peter Golds and dare to suggest it on UKIP, sorry Conservative, Home!
Justin (not signed in)
I `m somewhat disturbed at that Justin.Con Home is only a Blog though and I think you are representative of a large part of the party and the voters even more so.
I hope your innate reticence and self deprecating nature is not going to hold you back
"Didn't think the poo-faced Dim Lubs had any fun..." _ scatalogical, therefore I must disapprove (!), but a rather good pun, I must say!
At least one person 'got it' ! Hehehe!
Justin
....NICK DREW
Yes its been a while hasn’t it but at the last high-water mark of attracting the wrong sort we got Sebastian Coe. …he has always symbolised for me the pure politics free creep
I think you have it the wrong way round Nick. Oh well at least its not permanent. Like others here with their in jokes about Poo faces which I dare not probe ….
Mr mania, with posts like this you'll be called back tot he kitchen and tied to the sink by Mrs N.
Just remember who rules the world these days....
Not something I am ever allowed to forget CU.Its Justin`s Post really
Justin, It's just that I can often more than one side to an argument, the reasons why situations appear the way they do.
It's just that I can often more than one side to an argument,
As CS Lewis observed there are lots of different answers until you know the right one then there is one.
I always think I know best!!
I think there are a lot of positive things about this initiative. The fact that it is encouraging more women to play an active role in the Conservative Party is a really positive move. We need all the support we can get. W2W is not just about getting more female parliamentarians; it’s also about encouraging women to get involved in local government. Don’t knock it! Men have dominated the political sphere for far too long now. Anyway, we want a party that is more reflective of the society it represents. It’s not an easy job getting selected – people don’t get seats handed to them on a plate. I believe Magot James had over 40 interviews before she actually won a seat. Prior to this you have to sit through a rigorous PAB, which you’ve got to fork out 250 quid for. Then you’ve got to find forty two thousand pounds to fund your campaign. Most candidates have to give up work so that they can dedicate more of their time to their campaigning. It’s NOT an easy process – so, don’t knock it. With all of the costs involved it immediately becomes more of an exlusive pursuit anyway - I don't know many people with access to that type of cash.
You're a bright lad tell me what is the ratio is? How many male Conservative MP's are there to women? Publish it tomorrow on your blog.
What you’re not telling me is what exactly are the additional barriers that women face that men don’t. I `m getting the impression that few want to do it and that the privileged minority who do get a free ride out of some sort of tokenism.
Tough on deserving men who are elbowed out on an unofficial quota basis isn’t it , especially since as you say the financial barriers are so high for everyone
Newmania, You are on an incredible roll at the moment - anything to do with your blogging buddies firing you up last Fri? Where do you get the energy from to write so many intensive posts?
Bridget jones shut up and let a man speak!
Coooooooor that black lass is a bit of alright isn't she?
Down to business, Cameron is an arsehole leading a hatfull of arseholes, we don't need tokenism we need competence in our representatives, I would also like to know why the windscreen wipers on my car have suddenly started wiping despite the fact i haven't driven the bugger for a week and Im sat here at my desk looking out of the window watching them.
Cameron is an arsehole leading a hatfull of arseholes, we don't need tokenism we need competence in our representatives,
No he isn`t
yes we do
What sort of a symbol for women is it if women can only succeed with a sneaky leg up
Perhaps we should back to the good old days of shagging the boss.
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