Parliament too white to be 'sensible' claims Harman

PARLIAMENT is too white and male to have "sensible" debates on a string of issues, Commons Leader Harriet Harman claimed today.

The Cabinet minister warned that the Commons would have "no legitimacy" if it is seen as a "narrow and self-serving elite".

She spoke as MPs were today approving the creation of a cross-party Speaker's Conference, the first for more than two decades, to look at ways to boost the number of women and ethnic minorities being elected. Ms Harman also wants it to examine issues such as the sexuality of MPs. She said: "We cannot sensibly discuss the veil (in the Commons) when there is no Muslim woman MP; it was impossible to discuss domestic violence when there was 97 per cent men in the Commons."

Commons Speaker Michael Martin will pick up to 17 MPs to take part in the conference, which is expected to present recommendations next year.