We need more female MPs, says Kennedy

Charles Kennedy has told party staff they must work "much harder" to get more women elected as Liberal Democrat MPs.

The party leader indicated his frustration at the lack of female MPs at a private meeting yesterday. He told senior parliamentary officials he would throw his weight behind any measures to get more Liberal Democrat women into the House of Commons.

Mr Kennedy said he had been "tearing his hair out to try to find solutions" to the problem. There are only four female Liberal Democrat MPs, a smaller proportion than for Labour or the Tories.

Mr Kennedy is likely to reiterate his concern in his speech to next week's party conference. A report to be presented to the conference is expected to admit that the party is likely to fall short of making the parliamentary party representative of women by the next election.