The latest culture as recommended by our staff

Michael Henderson

Michael Henderson suggests


Sex and Power

Thursday, 4th September 2008

Your email address:   
Friend's email address:   
   

That's the name of the new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. I have to say that they seem to have a very odd idea about the way we do things in this country.
A snail could crawl the entire length of the Great Wall of China in 212 years, just slightly longer than the 200 years it will take for women to be equally represented in Parliament.

Erm, women are equally represented in Parliament. Just as those of all races, genders, sexual preferences, height, weight and eye colour are equally represented in Parliament.

For we have what is known as a representative democracy. We might snarl, spit and fight about who it is that is going to represent a particular constituency but once that is over the individual then represents all of the voters in that constituency.

What they mean of course is that it will take that long (at current rates of change) for the percentage of women in Parliament to be around and about the same as the percentage of women in the wider population. But there's no need at all for the people doing the representing to be of the same group as those being represented.

Some 20% of the population is functionally illiterate and we don't run around stating that 20% of Parliament must be illiterates after all. The same with any of the other ways in which we can slice and dice the population.


Blogs: Americano | Coffee House | Clive Davis | Melanie Phillips | Stephen Pollard

Actions: Print this article   |   Email to a friend   |   Permalink   |   Comment

Post this entry to:   del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Comments

Post a comment


Your comment:*

Your name:*

Your email address:*
(We won't publish this)

*Required information

Please click the button only once - your comment will not be published immediately

The Spectator Parliamentarian Awards
Weekly update

A new job for the IMF: as global policeman

Elliot Wilson 26/11/2008

Carbon footprints

Elisabeth Jeffries 26/11/2008

General Motors must be allowed to crash

Matthew Lynn 26/11/2008

‘These clouds will have a silver lining’

Judi Bevan 19/11/2008
Spectator recommends

Nissan Family Cars - Book a Test Drive Online

Take advantage of unbeatable Nissan value. Book a test drive today.


Spectator classifieds

ROME CENTRE

PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique

City Breaks. ROME and PARIS

ROME and PARIS: over 350 holiday rentals apartments listed: visit  www.romanreference.com  and  www.parisreference.com or call +39 0648 903612.

Jewellery. RUFFS (Estd. 1904).

Goldsmiths by Design Welcome to Ruffs!  You have found a company of Goldsmiths that specialises in the manufacture, amongst other