The Liberal Democrats encourage diversity

Yesterday Sir Menzies Campbell announced that the party is setting up a fund to encourage women candidates and ethnic minority candidates. Its initial funding of £200,000 has been provided by the Joseph Rowntree Trust.

Lord Bonkers writes exclusively for Liberal England:

I have always been a supporter of women's suffrage and was the first to applaud the action of Emily Davison in throwing herself under the King's horse at the 1913 Derby (even though I had backed the horse at distinctly favourable odds).

It is natural that we should now seek to consolidate the gains made by the jolly Pankhurst girls by getting more of our Liberal ladies into parliament. However, I know that childcare responsibilities can weigh heavily upon mothers and make it hard for them to find enough time to stand for Parliament.

Here at the Bonkers' Home for Well-Behaved Orphans we offer what may fairily be called "wrap-around" care - particularly since the new wall was erected. We have also taken on board today's concern about child obesity. as anyone who studies the diet we offer will see.

Any Liberal mother is welcome to leave their children in our care while she goes off canvassing, delivering leaflets, being photographed with Sir Menzies and so forth. I have suggested to the Rowntree people that they pay the £200,000 straight to me and cut out the middle man. We don't want to use up this fund in paying pen-pushers, do we?