Where are the women? Massive gender bias in Assembly candidates

With all the candidates announced for the London Assembly it has become clear that there is a massive under representation of women standing for office (or is that over representation of men?).

Of the seven Mayoral candidates just two are women, neither of whom are standing for the three largest parties.

On your Assembly “list” ballot paper there are 78 men and 44 women, although in this case the Greens, Lib Dems and Labour all have just over 50% women on their slates.

For the first past the post constituencies 63 men are standing and just 25 women.

It will come as no surprise that the far right parties are worst for gender balance although only the English Democrats have managed to field an all male list.

Voters in City and East will have not  single female candidate to vote for in their constituency. Lucky voters in West Central are the only area to have more female than male candidates to decide between in the constituency ballot.

All in all twice as any men are standing for election in 2012 than women.

You can find all the candidates listed at London Elects.