Oxford East MP said “Labour will act to make politics more representative of the country we serve”; Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble
Labour will force political parties to disclose anonymous data on the diversity of their candidates by introducing a “duty to demonstrate progress”, the shadow equalities minister has said.
Anneliese Dodds The MP said the party would use section 106 of the Equality Act, which requires the publication of information about the protected characteristics of those standing for it in elections, to implement the plan.
Ms Dodds, who is also chairwoman party, made the pledge during her speech at the Labor Party's annual women's conference in Liverpool.
“The Conservatives could have done this years ago, but they didn't have the courage.
“Only the Labor Party will act to make politics more representative of the country we serve,” she said.
“Bringing people from different backgrounds and backgrounds into Parliament, doing things that only women do – MPs, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic MPs, Disabled and LGBT MPs+ Deputies can do this.”
Labor has previously promised to make misogyny a hate crime, something campaigners have long called for to make it easier to prosecute crimes motivated by a person's sex or gender identity.
The Labor Party is the party of women.
While our opponents pay lip service to women, only the Labor Party can close the gender pay gap, tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls and improve the shocking plight of women' healthcare.
Because only Labor has the political will to do this. pic.twitter.com/EFK4UFGdgM
— Anneliese Dodds (@AnnelieseDodds) October 7, 2023
Ms Dodds told the conference: “We will make hate against women the hate crime we know it to be and strengthen existing laws to make hate crimes against LGBT people 43; and women with disabilities face the same harsh sentences.
“We will break down barriers to opportunity at every turn by passing the socioeconomic debt in the Equality Act and passing the Racial Equity Act to address structural racial issues. inequalities that hurt our society.
“And we will oppose any Conservative attempts to undermine Labour’s Equality Act, and defend and support it in government.”
The speech came ahead of the start Labor Party's annual conference, during which MPs, delegates and lobbyists gather for five days of policy debate, rallies and networking.
Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner arrived in Liverpool. boosted by a strong lead in the polls and a resounding by-election victory over the Scottish National Party in Scotland's Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
Speaking to Ms Dodds on the main stage on Saturday, Ms Rayner said: “ When it comes to building a better future for women, we won't just talk.
“We will go our own way because our lives, our careers, our future depend on it.”
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“We cannot continue on the path we are on, women are unsafe on the streets of Britain, two thirds of us are harassed in the workplace.”
“We must get into government and build on the legacy of the last Labor government. We must get into government and continue the fight for equality.
“And, conference, Labor must get into government to give this young girl living in poverty her future back.”
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