On Tuesday 20th October, the Speaker's Conference, which Anne Vice-Chairs, questioned all 3 main party leaders about what they are doing in order to increase the level of diversity in the candidates that will be standing for their parties at the next General Election. 

During the session Anne had the opportunity to quiz the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown MP, and was praised by the Speaker, John Bercow MP, for her stewardship of the Conference. Coverage of the session can be viewed here. 

This meeting followed the publication of the Speaker's Conference Interim Report in July and also the meeting held on 21st April when representatives of the three main political parties gave evidence regarding the parties' processes for selecting Parliamentary Candidates.

The Speaker's Conference is a special committee established by the House of Commons that was set up to "Consider, and make recommendations for rectifying, the disparity between the representation of women, ethnic minorities and disabled people in the House of Commons and their representation in the UK population at large".