Parties in Safe Seats Should Give Priority to Women, Says Jowell ; POLITICS AND GENDER Minister for Women Fears a Return to Male- Dominated, Macho Political Culture after the Next Election

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TESSA JOWELL, the minister for Women, warned yesterday that Labour's long-term drive to boost the number of its women MPs will be in jeopardy unless constituency parties select female candidates for the next general election.

In an interview with The Independent, Ms Jowell appealed to local parties to give priority to women in winnable seats, to prevent Labour's 101- strong band of women MPs being reduced after the election, which is expected next year.

Labour's Millbank headquarters fears the party's traditional male- dominated culture will reassert itself when constituency parties select their candidates in the next few months. Some men who failed to win seats …