At least half of Labour’s new candidates at next year’s Holyrood election will be women, the party’s new leader in Scotland has confirmed.
Aberdeen-born Kezia Dugdale made the announcement as she joined female activists in Glasgow yesterday to highlight Labour’s commitment to gender equality.
The 33-year-old, who was raised in Elgin, said there was still so much to do to shatter the glass ceiling for women in Scotland.
She added: “We have female leaders of the three main political parties.
“That’s a great thing and it’s something to shout about. But we can never make the mistake of thinking that it’s job done on equality for women in Scotland.
“I want to attract new talent and fresh faces to Scottish Labour for next year’s election. My commitment is that at least half of Scottish Labour’s new candidates will be women.
“There is so much to do to shatter the glass ceiling for women in Scotland.
“Having a parliament that looks like the country we seek to represent is a good start. I hope other parties rise to the challenge as Scottish Labour has.”
The move follows a decision by delegates at the SNP spring conference to allow all-female shortlists for the Scottish Parliament election.
An amendment to the party’s policy on the selection of candidates will allow its national executive committee to direct constituency branches to submit an all-female shortlist
when an MSP is standing down.