Candidate Selection in British Second Order Elections: A Comparison of Electoral System and Party Strategy Effects

Evans, Elizabeth; Harrison, Lisa

Abstract

Whilst most UK political parties have now accepted the need to increase the number of women representatives, the stark reality is that women remain under-represented. The under-representation of women in UK politics is not just evident in the national legislature but is a pattern repeated, to varying degrees, in second order elections at local, devolved and European levels. Recent developments in political recruitment processes allow us to explore the extent to which political parties take advantage of different electoral systems to promote women candidates in second order elections. Providing analysis of (s)election data from across second order elections, this article explores the interaction between systemic and institutional strategies, questioning which combination of electoral system and party strategy is most beneficial for increasing levels of women's representation. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Apr 8, 2013
• Journal: Journal of Legislative Studies
• Print ISSN: 1357-2334
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-9337
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 242-260
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13572334.2012.673067
• Keywords: women's representation, electoral systems, second order elections
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/948125
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13572334.2012.673067
• Contract Date: Apr 21, 2016