I'm not in favour of any form of discrimination.

However, I think I'm less inclined to accept 'positive' discrimination over the more common 'negative' form.

Oh, there's long been the cry that there aren't enough women in politics or the 'board-room' etc.

What's the betting that if a woman was prime minister in 1939 we'd probably all be Germans!  I mean, females don't like war do they so it would have been appeasement all the way.

I don't like war either, but I like to think that, had I been alive then, I would have been prepared to stand up and fight for what I think is right, and fight against what I believe is wrong.  Thank god for Winston!  And of course, the exception that proves the rule, Maggie.  Had the Labour Party been in government in '82 I'm sure they would have just rolled-over and given the Falkland Islands away! (But that's another topic to be explored).

I'm sorry, that was me being silly!  A pathetic schoolboy attempt to deliberately annoy 'liberals'.

It is true, there are not enough women in politics or company board-rooms; It is also true that there are not enough black or asian police officers (or for that matter, politicians).  And so we now have to consider demographics (and other stuff!).

Regarding politics and the company board-room.  The sex ratio for the UK is 0.98 Wikipedia which means there are slightly more females than males.  Does that necessarily mean that there should be slightly more female politicians or company executives?  In my option, NO!  What percentage of the female population are interested in politics?  How many women are business women?  I don't know - do you?  Certainly, at the level of political parties or large plc's, the various selection committees / boards / whatever, should stop discriminating in all areas of sex, race or religion.  I firmly believe that decisions to admit / promote / whatever, an individual should be based on MERIT!  And the same in reverse.

However, when it comes to small, privately owned, companies I can appreciate the desire of the proprietor to 'keep it in the family'.  Not an unreasonable desire - I'm sure that all of us, if we were in such a position, would want the same.  So, now.  Where does nepotism end and discrimination start?  I don't know!  Tough one isn't it!

Now to the more sensitive question of the racial composition of our police forces.  I have not been able to find any reliable statistics for this.  Yes, I would like there to be more 'racial minority' representation in the police force, but with a caviet - only if they want to preserve our freedoms and British way of life.  It's not hard to imagine that implementing positive discrimination to increase the number of Muslims in to the police force, could weaken our (read, British) society.  I make no apology for that statement - APPOINTMENT BY MERIT!

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