Ministerial Selection and the Cameron Government: Female Ministerial Representation and the One-Third Objective

When he was leader of the opposition David Cameron announced that it was his intention that one-third of ministers would be female by the end of his first term in office. By considering the ministerial selection literature and identifying the traditional variables that influence ministerial selection, as well as the comparative coalition ministerial selection literature, this article will identify how (whilst numerically possible) there are numerous intra- and inter-party obstacles which will impede Cameron in securing his objective.