The Conservative Party should introduce all-women shortlists to increase the number of female MPs, a former frontbencher has said.

Writing in the Independent on Wednesday, former shadow pensions minister John Bercow suggested that the only other alternative was a reduced shortlist for winnable seats, with half of those on the list being women.

"Increasing numbers of Conservatives believe that the dearth of women MPs on the Conservative benches makes us look narrow, prejudiced and unrepresentative of the country we seek to govern," he wrote.

"The fact that only one of the 38 new Tory MPs elected in June 2001 is a woman - and that no Conservative-held seat selected a female candidate - is a travesty."

Bercow, who resigned the frontbench over his party's stance on gay adoption, also indicated that attitudes within constituency associations also needed to change.

"To many Conservative selection committees still want young male MPs to fraternise with at drinks parties, and will not seriously consider choosing a woman," he claimed.

He said many believed that a woman candidate was not right for their constituency, or would attract fewer votes.

"This antediluvian outlook persists, even though there is not an iota of proof that women candidates receive fewer votes, and some evidence to the contrary."

The MP for Buckingham argued that while changes had been pledged in the past, none had increased the number of women Tory MPs.

"There is no sign whatever of a big improvement on the way. For at least 10 years, every Conservative responsible for candidates has talked enthusiastically about the need for more women MPs and his or her resolve to recruit them.

"Despite this, it has simply not happened."