If David Cameron does impose all women short lists, or even all men short lists, then he's totally lost his marbles and lost my vote. It's a sign of complete idiocy to choose a candidate by gender or race or by any criteria other than whether they are the best person for the job. It is also extremely undemocratic and an insult to women to suggest that we are incapable of competing.

He's topping all the polls and looking likely to be the next Prime Minister, but he could easily snatch defeat from the jaws of victory if he follows this path.

all women's lists sounds counter productive but the Australian Labour Party has had Emily's List for decades that finds and promotes great female minds including the wonderful next PM-Deputy PM Julia Gillard who originally came from a small Welsh village.