Kirsten Oswald MP, and SNP business convener said: “We’ve got a strong record on enabling women to stand, but we recognise more needs done so we are going further.
“For women putting themselves forward as candidates for the Scottish Parliamentary elections next year the party has held online information sessions on the selection process that’s allowed women to support each other with helpful ideas and guidance on everything involved in selection such as how to prepare for online hustings.
“The use of all-women contests in particular seats will build on the successes in 2016 and take us towards our target of 50/50 representation.”
Oswald said the SNP has also adopted a “wide-ranging plan” to increase BAME and disabled candidates.
“For our BAME communities, the recent focus around ‘Black Lives Matter’ has reinforced the need to hear all of the voices of Scotland within our national Parliament,” she said.
“Where a contest is taking place to select an SNP candidate, the National Executive Committee will take steps to ensure that, wherever possible, members will have the opportunity to consider candidates from diverse backgrounds.
“Our target is to see at least four people from the BAME community and at least two self-declared disabled members standing in constituency seats next year.
“As the SNP lead the campaign for independence it is vital that we apply the same values of fairness and equality in our processes as we aim to have across all institutions and public life in a future in Scotland.”
GREENS
The Scottish Greens said its women’s network has been working hard to encourage and support more diverse people to stand for the Scottish Greens.
This has included changing the selection process which led to all but three of the regional lists being topped by women.
The party’s co-leader Lorna Slater said: “The Scottish Greens have worked hard to ensure that women are well represented in our candidates for 2021. Women top five of the eight regional lists and are second in six.
“But it is true that politics remains dominated by men, entrenched by a toxic macho culture of online abuse.
“This is why the Scottish Greens women’s network has created a supportive environment to encourage and promote women and non-binary candidates to stand and make sure their voices are heard.”
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have changed party rules to guarantee women are selected for key seats.
A spokesman said: “This system has already meant that our four MPs are 50:50 women and men.
“The selection process for Holyrood is using this system to guarantee women in top places, with additional measures to help BAME candidates.
‘‘The party also participates in Inclusion Scotland’s programme for disabled people designed to give them their first chance of working in politics.
“All shortlisted candidates from under-represented groups are contacted individually to ask what additional support they need.”
CONSERVATIVES
Annie Wells, Scottish Conservative MSP, said: “The Scottish Conservatives have done a significant amount of work encouraging individuals from all walks of life to join our ranks.
“Both Women 2 Win and the Scottish Conservative friends of BAME provide considerable outreach and support to candidates.
“There is clearly more all political parties can do to be more representative of society and we are working hard to address that.”
LABOUR
Scottish Labour did not respond to request for comment.
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