National – more women-friendly?

• Dancer
• 16 years ago
• Categories: election 2008, national
• Tags: burqa bob, colin espiner, labour, national, women

Colin Espiner pointed it out the other week, National “needs more women. Never over-represented in National at the best of times, the party is looking increasingly estrogen-lite.”

So there would have been a sigh of relief in National circles that they can now distance themselves from comments such as these from declared departee Bob Clarkson:

“I don’t want to be mean… but what makes me struggle is why does Labour favour the hairy-legged ladies?… I cross-examine some of these ladies in the select committee, and guys for that matter, and they’ve got warped bloody minds…”

Part of the polling success for National has been their appeal to women who have traditionally been more likely to be Labour supporters. But there is an issue for National in ensuring they have some good women standing as candidates in winnable electorates, or high on their party list. We need to see the promise delivered on.