Splits on gender balance

The thorny issue of all-women shortlists is set to fire up Lib Dem delegates at Bournemouth this afternoon.

The party, appalled by the low number of women elected to Westminster in June, will discuss increasing female representation at Westminster and the vote on policy is expected to be close.

When the party's 14 new MPs were brought onto the conference stage on Monday many delegates expressed disappointment at the fact that only five were women.

The party is deeply divided over how to achieve "gender balance" and organisers are not predicting which way the vote will go.

The leadership is hoping to duck the issue by holding back a decision in anticipation of proposals on all-women shortlists from the government.

Lib Dem MPs Evan Harris and Lembit Opik have, however, argued against women-only lists, believing positive discrimination is a flawed idea that will leave the party open to legal challenges.

Polly Martin said the delegates were set for what will be one of the more vigorous discussions of the week. "It's going to be one of the most lively debates we're going to have this week and it's going to be very close," she said.