Politicsgenderquotas astepinrightdirection

HALF of the world’s population are women, yet women only hold 23% of seats in parliaments and senates.

Only three countries in the world have more female elected members than males in their lower houses: Rwanda (61%), Cuba (53%) and Bolivia (53%).

Britain is ranked 41st with 32% of the House of Commons being female, while Ireland comes in 82nd with 22%.

We have become used to serious gender imbalance in terms of politics and power across the world. Every country should aspire to having at least 50% of legislators being female.

This means women wanting to give public service, women wanting to lead, women getting elected.

Britain could be radical and legislate in the following way to ensure gender balance after the next election. Halve the number of constituencies to 325 and create two lists in each electoral area (one for male candidates and one for female candidates). On polling day votes would be cast with the electorate (men and women) voting for their preferred man and their preferred woman on each list.

The candidates getting the highest number of votes on each list are elected: 325 women and 325 men.

Men would be secure in knowing they would always have 50% representation in parliament. As legislators they would never be in the minority. And women would get a fair crack of the whip.

ALISON HACKETT By email