Tory candidates push for women’s vote
The Conservative party has to make itself more attractive to women, the Tory leadership candidates have agreed.
David Cameron and David Davis are today attempting to woo women back to the party, both as voters and as potential parliamentary candidates.
Until 1997, the Conservatives always had a majority of female voters, but this has been steadily declining ever since. In the Commons, their record is similar – there are only 17 female Tory MPs, down from an all-time high of 22 under John Major.
In a special edition of Woman’s Hour, Mr Davis suggested that the party had alienated women by “appearing sleazy and self-serving” and by focusing too much on “issues that excite politicians”, such as Europe, and forgetting the issues that really matter to people.
For his part, Mr Cameron said there was “too much Punch and Judy in politics” and not enough working together. The Tories would only appeal to more women by focusing more on issues such as unequal pay, childcare, pensions and flexible working.
Both men were challenged on how they were personally perceived by women – Mr Davis said concerns about his use of big-breasted women in his campaign was the result of a “sense of humour failure”, while Mr Cameron defended his membership of private men’s club White’s as a family tradition that he believed was of little importance.
Turning to how the Tories could bring more women into parliament, both candidates rejected outright the suggestion of all-women shortlists, insisting constituencies must decide who they choose to put forward for an election.
However, Mr Cameron suggested an ‘A-list’ of top candidates – men and women – could be drawn up to present to constituencies. He also called for more emphasis on all the different roles an MP must play, such as holding surgery, which would be more attractive to women.
Meanwhile, Mr Davis pointed out how, when he was party chairman, profiles were developed of constituencies that were then presented to local party members to show them what kind of candidate they should be looking for.
The Conservatives have long been the party championing the family, and both Mr Davis and Mr Cameron are in favour of supporting this and marriage as stabilising social institutions.
“It’s a question of improving the odds for all children – and marriage has the best odds going,” Mr Davis told the programme.
Tax credits would not be given just to mothers who used formal childcare, they said, but to all mothers, to use them how they would wish. This could include giving the money to grandparents and other family carers.
And on the controversial issue of maternity and paternity leave, Mr Davis in particular warned against introducing policies that would hit small businesses – both for economic reasons, and also because it could end in “covert discrimination” against women.
Mr Cameron – who is expecting his third child next year – called for the system to be made more flexible, allowing parents to take time off when they most needed it rather than at set times. Asked if he would be taking two weeks off after the birth, he said he was “going to be flexible”.
The two candidates are now set to face the Conservative women’s conference in London later today, as they enter a crucial week in the campaign to succeed Michael Howard.
The more than 250,000 Conservative party members eligible to vote in the leadership contest have now received their ballot papers, and although they have until December 5th to return them, it is likely that some will send them back immediately.
A Populus poll for The Times today finds Mr Cameron is still leading the race among the general public, by 37 per cent to 30 per cent.
But among Tory supporters, Mr Davis is leading 50 to 37 per cent – last month, the shadow home secretary was some 30 points behind Mr Cameron among this group.
