Gender shock! GBTF to train men at Bournemouth Conference

10.25.23am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th Jul 2004

The highly successful Gender Balance Task Force training programme is set to break new ground at this year's Federal Conference. Men will be encouraged to attend GBTF training sessions.

GBTF Vice Chair and trainer Candy Piercy explained the background to this controversial decision.

"The GBTF women-only training has proved to be a great success over the last couple of years. But we were aware that there were still some women who were not comfortable with the women only approach. Indeed some women felt they would get more interesting insights into the male perspective, when men were also attending the training.

"Naturally GBTF will not lose sight of what we are there for - to get more women elected at all levels - and particularly to Westminster.

"So this year we will have one room at the Bournemouth conference where we are running women-only training - and one room for all comers. This will give more opportunities and choice for women delegates - and we hope the men find it useful too."