Two Wharfedale MPs have warned against all-ethnic shortlists in elections, saying it could be politically dangerous.

The Government is considering a report commissioned by Equalities Minister Harriet Harman which calls for ethnic minority-only shortlists to boost the number of black and Asian MPs.

The report, written by Simon Woolley of Operation Black Vote, is said to state that all-black shortlists would be needed for the next 20 years.

The report is expected to recommend a change to race relation laws so such shortlists could be introduced in some seats at future General Elections.

But both Ilkley Labour MP Ann Cryer and Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies, who represents Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston, have come out against the idea.

Mrs Cryer said she feared the shortlists would raise many questions, including what constituted an ethnic background. She said some of her grandchildren also had Indian grandparents, so wondered whether that mean they were from an ethnic background, too.

She said: "If you get into ethnic minority shortlists, where does it end? Are we talking about people who are born here, who have families in Pakistan or other countries? What is the definition?

"This is potential dynamite. I am sure Harriet Harmon will have the best intentions. If we are going to bring in ethnic shortlists we face the problems in some cultures where having women in high-powered positions is still a problem.

"So then we would only have ethnic minority men, so this would be a move backwards if the shortlists were just men."

Mr Davies said: "It is a crazy idea. People should be selected on merit and it should be irrelevant what skin colour they have as it could cause a huge amount of damage to race relations as it creates resentment.

"It is just a ridiculous idea, which I will wholeheartedly oppose."