“The Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary Representation ran alongside the biggest crisis our democracy has faced in generations. So it is a tragedy that its final report has failed to even acknowledge this crisis, a saga which has turned a whole generation on to the chasm between voters and their politicians.

“People have seen how our Parliament has come to resemble a closed shop, with so few opportunities for new blood come election day. This report is deeply irresponsible to pass on the reality of our voting system.

“Safe seats are a wall that female and minority candidates will have to scale time and again until this country sees meaningful electoral reform. Until then it’s Jobs for Life for the boys.”