Positive discrimination to ensure that more women are selected to stand as MPs will be introduced "as quickly as possible", Stephen Byers said yesterday.

Byers, who is responsible for electoral legislation, made the assurance after an Equal Opportunities Commission report said that China and Vietnam had more female politicians than Britain. However, the report also acknowledged that the short-term use of women only shortlists by Labour created a backlash against female candidates.

The commission also attacked the government's women's unit yesterday, arguing that the £2.3 million a-year body has failed to meet the key criteria set down by Labour.

Tory leadership contender, Kenneth Clarke, has rejected women only shortlists as has his rival Iain Duncan Smith.