They’re part of a broader move by the Government to rein in some of the more extreme politically correct excesses that went unchecked before.
It is deeply dangerous for discussions around this sector to not only exclude half of the population by gender, but ignore wider demographic change.
Our Party is at its best when it is a broad church, not only on the political spectrum but when we have voices from all walks of life.
In the private sector, constantly over-spending your allocated budget would not be dealt with by a bailout but by being shown the door.
Countries need a balance of self-criticism and self-confidence. People are often called on to act for a greater good. But if Britain is shameful, why bother?
It sends a clear, positive signal to young people from migrant backgrounds, among whom our Party lags behind.
Despite only a short democratic history, the world’s largest Muslim nation could be a powerful force for pluralism and tolerance.
James Kanagasooriam’s recent analysis is powerful, but the suggested solutions are less sure. Simply offering what younger voters want won’t work.
It is a sad and all-too-obvious fact that most of the decision makers I meet in my role as Mayor are people who look like me.
Understanding what makes these voters tick could be key to the outcome of the next election. No party can afford to ignore them.
It’s time for us to acknowledge that it is a response to our own failures – and to listen to voters who are opting for it.
Also, a balanced Parliamentary Party requires a diverse pipeline of candidates – this means diversity of background and thought.
Addressing this persistent under-representation is not political correctness, it is political common sense. Our Party would be the better for it.
Amidst the wreckage this morning, there are a few points of light. But that cackling noise you hear from Kensington is George Osborne laughing his head off.
The Tories are making gradual rather than spectacular progress on ethnic diversity – as the party’s class of 2017 looks set to prove.