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Opening up the Party: How to encourage diversity through candidate selection

Our panellists discussed the merits of recent reforms to candidate selection and reflected on candidate diversity and public engagement.

The Institute co-hosted fringe events at each of the three party conferences, where our panellists discussed the merits of recent reforms to candidate selection and reflected on the impact they have had on candidate diversity and public engagement.

In 2008, shortly after becoming party leader, Nick Clegg called upon the Liberal Democrats to broaden the diversity of its members and elected representatives, arguing that "We simply cannot represent modern Britain until modern Britain is represented in us." But of the 57 Liberal Democrat MPs elected in 2010, just seven are women and not one is from an ethnic minority.

Why does the party have such a poor record in terms of diversity? And what should be done between now and the next election to improve this picture? These questions were addressed by our panel of speakers, including Party Chairman Tim Farron and CentreForum Director Anthony Rowlands.

The discussion was informed by findings from a recent study of candidate selection by the Institute for Government. 

Opening up the Party: How to encourage diversity through candidate selection was hosted by: CentreForum, the Institute for Government and Policy Exchange.

Speakers: Chris Nicholson (Chair), Lord Adonis, Tim Farron MP, Jo Swinson MP and Tessa Munt MP

More information

Political party
Liberal Democrat
Publisher
Institute for Government

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