Banning political parties from all male leadership is patronising, says Louise Bours

Banning political parties from having an all-male leadership is patronising and damaging to the cause for equal rights for women, says Euro MP Lousie Bours.

Ms Bours interjection comes following an interview with the BBC where Harriet Harman, former deputy leader of the Labour party, said the Labour party needed to change its rules to prevent another men-only leadership.

Ms Harman said: “We can't have a men-only leadership when we are party for women and equality.”

Responding to the comments,  UKIP Euro MP Ms Bours said: “It is offensive to most women, to suggest that we cannot reach positions of power without a special rule holding men back, and Harman seems to forget that there were women in the contest for leader and deputy leader of the party, but they lost.

“If Harman gets her way, we could end up with a prime minister that is not the best talent a party has to offer, they just happen to be of a particular gender.”