Lisa Nandy: Bothered by All White Male List.

Labour has selected candidates for upcoming by-elections. David Beale is contesting Boris' seat in Uxbridge, Alistair Strathern is contesting Nadine Dorries' seat (though she has yet to resign), Neil Guild is doing the same in Somerton and Frome, and Michael Shanks for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

However, amongst many opposition MPs, they are not happy with the above. All male and all-white candidates to them, are not correct. It does not as far as they are concerned, reflect, modern society. Of course, they have a point, female and ethnic minorities should be represented as much as their male and white colleagues. However, whether lists of all female or all ethnic minority candidates are correct, is open to question. Lists could be accused of tokenism. Surely, it is better to select someone regardless of race, nationality, faith, gender, etc, based on their skill or ability.

Otherwise, you might end up with people who may not be fit for the job. If it is based soley on their gender or any other aspect. It is the same as saying we need more black people in our place of work. That is a positive thing to recommend, however, if you select a black man over a white man or indeed, a female over a male, that may have problems.

The selected black or female person may not be suitable for the job. Which in the end will not be good for the individual selected or the company.

People should be selected on a proven track record and merit. Regardless of their ethnicity, nationality, faith, or gender.

The argument that this Labour candidate list does not reflect modern British society has traction. However, based on race alone, the majority of UK people based on the 2021 Census are still white.

Not every part of the country looks like London, Manchester, or Birmingham with high ethnic populations. Yet, there's a one size fits all mentality that seems to think all of the country looks like these cities when it's clearly not the case.

Labour Communities Secretary Lisa Nandy was asked by Sky's Sophie Ridge did this all-male and white list bother her. Ms. Nandy replied "It did" and she emphasised that Labour wanted to represent everyone who resides in modern Britain. Ms. Nandy herself is half-Indian with her other half being English. Ms. Nandy said she was part of an all-female list.

Given the success of Labour at the recent local elections it will be interesting to see how the Labour candidates do. The Conservatives will be fighting an uphill battle in many of these constituencies. Labour may capture some of these formerly safe Tory seats. If this is the case, it will give Sir Keir and Labour, another foundation, to build on. A foundation going forward that should see them win or at least do well in the upcoming (2024) general election.

Whether you support lists of people that may overrepresent certain people. Or if you do not support such a thing and think people should be selected based on merit is a controversial issue. A Meritocracy for me is the better way forward. If certain people like blacks, females, Muslims, etc, do not get selected that isn't necessarily prejudice. The same as if a white man or a Christian does not get selected that is not necessarily prejudice.

In today's world, such issues are part of the world we live in. And yet for all the fact, we are supposedly living in a liberal, tolerant, and accepting society, some communities get more equality than others. This makes a mockery of the word 'equality' and everything it stands for.