UK: Anger over women-only shortlists

Story here. Excerpt:

'There was anger and dismay today after the Labour Party forced women-only shortlists on both the Wigan and Makerfield seats.

Against the majority of local members' wishes, a selection panel from the National Executive Committee insisted that positive discrimination was the way forward in the neighbouring constituencies.
...
One Wigan party member who declined to be named said: "This is scandalous, sexist and a big blow to democracy.

"We should be able to pick from all the available candidates purely on merit, not restrict ourselves because of their gender."

There was also puzzlement that the NEC had insisted on all-women lists in Wigan, Makerfield and several other constituencies, but had allowed open lists in Warrington South and Derby North.

A Makerfield Labour Party member said: "We can understand the need to increase the number of female MPs, but why have two all female lists in constituencies next door to each other while others are given a free hand?"'