Reshuffle to promote more Tory women?

No, you are not being cynical - just realistic.

The quote 'He admitted last year he has not appointed enough women to the Cabinet and said his wife Samantha urges him to promote female talent.' I am sure was meant to be 'humorous' but I find it rather sad and worrying that he has to be 'urged' to do what he should be doing anyway - giving equal opportunities based on ability. It says a lot about his true beliefs if he has to 'urged'.

The bulk promotion of so many women is being seen as a risky gamble because of their relative inexperience compared with other Cabinet heavyweights.

The same old chestnut - how are people supposed to gain experience if they are not given the chance to gain it in the first place

However Mr Cameron is understood to want to make sure that his top team is more reflective of the country going into May’s general election.

And there we have it - it is just a vote tactic. It would have been more believable had it occured much soon, like when they were first elected.

How typical of importance though - the bulk of the article talks more about the men than the women being considered! Kind of puts it in context.

Hopefully people will realise it's just a pat on the head for over 50% of the population.

You'll love this article saying women need more swagger to deal with parliament .

Absolutely sums it up!

The jaunty confidence of the pantomime principal boy

We tend to laugh at the 'dames' as they're usually hopelessly out of their depth and make a pig's ear of everything and require the 'principal boy' to bring order - oh, hang on ..... that's what we're talking about isn't it

Good posts Hollydaze - Bags its behind a paywall and i don't want to give them £1 for 30 days and be pestered for ever more. But no doubt Matthew Parrish on amusing form as ever.
The Labour party, meanwhile are struggling on heroically with the all women shortlists plan - the only way there has ever been a significant increase in women getting selected and elected. But Cynon valley constituency are being embarrassing. After all these years Ann Clwyd is retiring and the local party is refusing to accept that they should have an all woman shortlist.
I'm thinking that not enough women actually join the labour party and have a say maybe...

You'all holding your collective breath for this much anticipated reshuffle? It would be amusing wouldn't it if some of the women DC seeks to promote told him what to do with this tokenism.
More interesting to see who gets the elbow. Pickles, surely to betsy, must be top of the ditch list. I think the national vote would probably go to Gove but I doubt it. Keep your enemies close and all that.

All women shortlists, unless you are married to Harriet Harperson that is. No hypocrisy there.

Does anybody think that David Cameron had to give so many ministerial/cabinet seats to the Lib Dems and they have not only so few MP's they have so few women? He probably would have loved to have only his party in place and no doubt there would have been more women.

I don't understand the fuss over reshuffles. Labour used to get it in the neck because they were prone to making changes often.

The All Women Shortlists to me verge on equality issues.

Is it right for say a golf club to have a male only membership? If your answer is no why do you think you have a right to to have All Women Shortlists, surely there is no difference. There is either gender equality or not.

I don't want to be run by a government that puts women in to the government just because they are female, I want a government to pick the best candidate for the job irrespective of their gender. By crickey I have seen some duff women speaking in parliament and I would despair to think they are only there because they wear a skirt not for their brain power but I have to wonder sometimes if that is the case.

I would have thought a feminist would want to be chosen BEAUSE they are proving women are as good as men and NOT because of her gender as would be the case if men are not allowed to compete against them. I would think that in time All Women Shortlists will be seen as decisive and could backfire and I don't see that it makes for good relations within parties to be honest.

I don't think Harriet Harman coming out last week saying she was held back because she was a woman did the cause much good either.

Hear, hear, POGS

Harriet Harman is complaining that Gordon Brown didn't make her Deputy PM because she was a woman. Did he tell her that was the reason? He didn't have a deputy. There doesn't have to be a deputy. I agree, Pogs, she isn't helping the cause. And I think Jess is absolutely right as well with the OP.

I don't think Harriet Harman coming out last week saying she was held back because she was a woman did the cause much good either.

I was wondering, POGS, if she had brought it up as a way to put her hat in the ring so to speak - by now voicing it, it's almost daring them to overlook her again!

As a general rule, I wouldn't support all-women shortlists for the reasons given but as women do tend to left to one side with male politicians, I think this is one of those cases where without it, I doubt many women would be promoted.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/14/synod-and-tories-realise-they-need-womans-touch

Nice example of how in one constituency only the men were selected for he short list.
This is the first major reshuffle of this government. Nobody expected Hague to move from Foreign Sec. It is also going very slowly, now he has started.
Might be an interesting day to see who else is out-shuffled.

I heard a rumour that Gove is going to defence. If that's true watch for Lord Carpet to run the services

That's one I haven't heard. Do you think he'd willingly give up the empire he's created?

Oh ho he's going to be chief whip. He's has plenty of practice.

Once and only once I was persuaded to vote Tory as a woman (MT) would be our first female PM and would promote womens' issues - how wrong can you be? It doesn't matter how many women DC puts in his cabinet it wont persuade me they are going to make life better for the average working woman - I mean the bulk of working women who have low pay and low status they might make some impact at Board level but nothing else will change. Its a blatant pre-election vote chaser.

I expect to see Hague and Clarke in the Lords post election.

Clarke is going for re-election. The Tories need some grit in the oyster! (my words, not his)

Nicky Morgan ..Education..and Women and Equality. Not a good start that she is anti- gay marriage!

Nicky Morgan is going to Education. She is our MP and, IMO, brilliant. She has been invaluable when DS has needed a word in someone's ear - generally EMT - and seems to be quite down to earth.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/syria-philip-hammond-confuses-saddam-hussein-with-bashar-alassad-on-newsnight-8790892.html
Or confidence in Philip Hammond as Defence Minister!

Cut him a bit of slack? He was probably tired, and it's easily done!

X posts Grannylin but I stand by my post!

Yes I've never forgotten Harriet Harmen mislaying her all women short list when it came to her hubby getting his safe seat.