Legislation for women MEPs wrong, says Louise Bours

Louise Bours, North West UKIP MEP

A suggestion that legislation should be introduced to ensure more women MPs are elected has been described as 'the wrong path to follow' by local MEP Louise Bours.

“I am all in favour of women in politics at all levels, obviously including in the House of Commons, but this is just a heavy-handed plan,” she said.

Her comments follow a call by the Women and Equalities Committee for political parties to be held to account to reduce the deficit in the number of women MPs.

And it is suggested that those which fail to take steps to ensure at least 45 per cent of all representatives in Parliament are women should be forced to do so by new legislation.

“This just smacks of positive discrimination which blights various aspects of life these days. Women should get to the top of whatever profession they choose through talent and suitability not just because of their sex”, said Ms Bours, North West Euro-MP.

“Quota systems based on whether a person is male or female, disabled, their sexual orientation or ethnicity are wrong. Everyone should be treated as equal in that regard and be given a job on the basis they are the right person for it.

“I agree that we need to encourage women into politics and we should be considering why they are not entering that field and try to remedy that situation.”