‘If Only More Candidates Came Forward’: Supply-Side Explanations of Candidate Selection in Britain

Abstract

In a familiar observation, members of the British House of Commons are demographically unrepresentative of the British population in terms of gender, race, education and class. This article takes a fresh look at the reasons why this is the case, based on data from the British Candidate Study, 1992. This study analyses the background, experience and attitudes of MPs, candidates, applicants, party members and voters. By comparing strata we can see whether the outcome of the selection process reflects the supply of those willing to stand for Parliament or the demands of local party activists when adopting candidates for local constituencies.

Democratizing Candidate Selection

“…The UK's majoritarian political and FPTP electoral system has been a consistent and resilient feature of the British constitution, despite calls for electoral reform and growing dissatisfaction with the mismatch between the number of votes and the number of seats parties get in the House of Commons (Johnston, 2001). The electoral system tends not only to reward traditional major parties in UK politics-the Conservatives and the Labour Party-but also, in conjunction with the effect of incumbency, to limit the electoral chance of women and ethnic minority candidates (Norris & Lovenduski, 1993). …”

Left, right, left. The influence of party ideology on the political representation of ethnic minorities in Belgium

“…Rightist parties, in contrast, tend to favor individualism and limited roles for governmental rules and regulations; they are less open to considerations of group representation (Girvin 1988;Hyde 1995). In addition, they are said to cherish traditional family values and could therefore be prejudiced against women's representation (Norris and Lovenduski 1993).…”

“…Certain party characteristics seem to favor the involvement of women. First, concerning the organizational structure of a party, centralized and institutionalized parties make it easier for women to enter party politics (Norris and Lovenduski 1993;Matland and Studlar 1996;Caul 1999;Kittilson 2013). Also, the level of candidate selection matters.…”

“…Furthermore, not only individual women, but also networks are of crucial importance in the nomination process. Political parties often have internal women organizations that promote women for office (Norris and Lovenduski 1993;Leyenaar 2004;Htun 2005), defend female interests or gender equality (Kittilson 2013).…”

Who are the Women? Where are the Women? And What Difference Can They Make? Effects of Gender Parity in French Municipal Elections

“…Beyond encouraging them to have larger families and easing them out of the workforce, public sector jobs may also encourage and ease women's entry into political life. Public sector jobs, along with some kinds of professional situations, have been called 'brokerage occupations' and have been posited as a key supply-side explanation of both men's and women's entry into political life (Norris and Lovenduski, 1993). They facilitate entry into politics by allowing flexible time-management, Karen Bird Effects of Gender Parity in French Municipal Elections generous vacations and career interruptions, financial security, professional independence, public networks, and social status, as well as expertise and skills that are all complementary to the pursuit of political office.…”