How good are Labour's prospective MPs?

Reasonablesocialist Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 12:38:08 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

In light of speculation over possible replacements for retiring MPs, do people think we are attracting the talent to be prospective MPs that we should be? A lot of the names bounded about seem thoroughly decent but, well, pretty average.



Take Hull East - the names in the frame included an inconspicuous former Government minister who had already lost one seat, a youthful special adviser with nothing on his CV outside of Westminster, and the son of the existing MP. This is certainly not a definitive list but surely we want our candidates to have some or all of the following: 1. Political experience of some sort 2. Local campaigning experience, and knowledge of the grassroots party 3. An existing career outside of politics - so called 'real world experience' so that they're not just career politicians 4. A clear sense of what they want to achieve in the job - why them as opposed to anyone else? How do people think we're doing on this?

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How good are Labour's prospective MPs? | 28 comments (28 topical)

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#1)

by laurencemarshall on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 01:28:36 AM GMT

I'm inclined to agree with point 3, i'd like people from outside the Westminister bubble to actually have some life experience other than politics. Having worked for an MP who was a top financial journalist, I saw that his expertise made him a better legislator. In comparison, I saw other researchers applying for seats who didn't know their arse from their elbow but knew effective Labourspeak.

What we do have is too many lawyers. I've always thought lawyers, in general, make bad MPs. This is simply because they deal in what is, and not really trained to think what could be. I'd like a parliament of ideas, with a range of different professions within it, not one that is so boring that even might make even a train spotter yawn.

Finally, does anybody know if a teacher has been selected for a safe seat this time round? Teachers used to be stereotypical Labour candidates, but I haven't heard of any selections.


Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#2)

by Parishpumpspin on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 08:16:48 AM GMT

To respond to a few points, firstly any attack on Chris Lesley is idiotic, he is only outside of Parliament because he stayed to defend Shipley.

On having a "wider" experience, i agree if that's upbringing experience, I do not however think your profession at the time of applying is relevant, maybe just maybe the SPAD, Lobbyist, Councillor etc is just someone who did well from humble beginning. The only thing I would say is no PPP Oxford types!

The 97 intake had a wide range of ability, both political and personal, we also elected some dorks.

On the teacher issue, from the 97 intake Colin Burgon....you takes your pick so to speak....


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#3)

by Reasonablesocialist on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 09:36:14 AM GMT

I've just found an interesting article from the Commons library on the internet. It breaks the 2005 intake down by occupation.

Some of it surprised me.  Of the 355 Labour MPs elected in 2005:
10 were barristers
18 were solicitors
41 were from university/college teachers
32 were school teachers
60 were from political roles

It's worth a look:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snsg-01528.pdf


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#4)

by Andrea on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 11:00:58 AM GMT

Looking at new PPCs in Lab held seats (where sitting MPs are retiring):

Rachel Reeves (Leeds West): economist (currently working for the Halifax)
Yasmine Qureshi (Bolton South East): barrister
Grahame Morries (Easington): working for the retiring MP; Parliamentary Officer of the National Association of Local Government Councillors (previously a medical laboratory officer)
Nancy Platts (Brighton Pavilion): professional campaigner
Simon Burgess (Brighton Kemptown):  ? (I don't know)
Sam Townend (Bristol North West): Barrister
Jayne Innes (Nuneaton): a charity director
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow Central): dentist
Geraint Davies (Swansea West): former MP, former marketing manager; from 2006 chair of Flood Risk Management Wales


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#19)

by wgm on Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 09:44:40 PM GMT

Simon Burgess (Brighton Kemptown) has worked in the transport industry and the NHS. For the past 10 years he has worked for Des Turner MP and has been a councillor, leading Brighton and Hove City Council 2006/7.


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#24)

by Will Roberts on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 09:55:25 PM GMT

I have to object to the "no PPP Oxford types" suggestion! (Although I suspect you mean PPE as PPP is something different altogether).


If we are going to be a party that represents the whole country then surely we shouldn't be rejecting people based on the university they went to - any more than we would reject them because they didn't go to university?


I graduated from Oxford (yes, in PPE) ten years ago (and incidentally I come from a middle class background in South East England). Since then I have worked in education and am currently an Assistant Headteacher in a secondary school in a Labour constituency where my daily work involves raising students' aspirations and achievement (ie exactly what our government has been seeking to do for the last ten years).

Would I really make a better candidate if I was working class and hadn't been to university?

Of course we need all sorts of different people both as candidates and representing us in parliament - but as soon as we start being a party just of the traditional working class then we are back to a 25% share of the vote and decades of Tory government.

If I chose to stand for selection I would hope to be considered on merit, alongside everyone else - regardless of their background.


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#26)

by Parishpumpspin on Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 07:55:28 PM GMT

Were you a New College boy as well?  As it happens the best man at my wedding has a PPE degree from Oxford and whilst he might be one of my best mates it would still a travasty if that small course continued to be massivily over-represented in Parliament and in the PLP, sorry if that bothers you but as far as I'm concerned "merit" plays only a minimal role in who gets on that course in the first place and clearly those who do get on it do so in the knowledge of the advantage gained in future life by doing so.

Its my one remaining class based issue and i'm keeping it! :-)


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#27)

by Will Roberts on Sun Oct 21, 2007 at 08:53:15 PM GMT

I went to an ordinary comprehensive school, my parents had a very average income, and I was the first in my family to go to university - so I'm not sure how I got in other than on merit?

The reality is that entrance to Oxford university is competitive, and the PPE course is basically a course in British Government. Are we therefore surprised that many of its graduates go on to be civil servants and politicians - competitive professions which between them run the British Government?

Oxford graduates (such as Blair, Miliband and Mandelson) have been instrumental to our last 10 years in power, and if you don't like any of them, I could also mention Clem Attlee, Harold Wilson and Tony Benn. Would we have been better off without them?


The reality is that some groups are under-represented in the PLP (women, ethnic minorities) and some are over-represented (PPE graduates, trade unionists). I would suggest we need to be a bit more subtle about addressing this issue than simply saying "no" to certain groups being selected as candidates in the future.

Incidentally, was your best man selected on merit? :-)


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#28)

by Parishpumpspin on Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 07:39:44 AM GMT

Absolutly, all that academic parents and Oxford stuff means he is too in ore of my working class upbringing to dare do owt I don't like on my stag do...... ;-0

I'm sure with 10 sec's research I could long list a series of people who did PPE and then went on to politically piss on the country and/or the party, you acknowledge its over-represented, shame you don't acknowledge that Oxford's entry system is still elitist but to be fair, unlike others on here, your not defending existing Grammar Schools.


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#5)

by donpaskini on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 11:55:02 AM GMT

I don't agree with parishpumpspin in that I think profession at time of applying is relevant.  Our candidates (who I think are usually very good) tend to either work as lawyers, in better paid public sector jobs, for a charity or trade union or politically as a councillor/MP's researcher.  Whatever their upbringing, they tend to have a higher than average income when applying to become an MP (not least because trying to get selected and being a PPC are both expensive).


Nothing wrong with people doing those sorts of jobs wanting to become Labour MPs, but as our leader might put it, think of the wasted potential of all the people in low paid jobs, or who are unemployed, who would make fantastic MPs, but who are in practice excluded from having the chance.  There are plenty of employers who even threaten to sack people who want to stand for the council.


The Labour Party was set up at least in part to give working class people the chance to be elected to parliament, and there should be at least some concern when every single person on Andrea's list is currently earning much more than most of our supporters will ever do.


Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#6)

by richardscorer on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 12:32:40 PM GMT

As a newly selected PPC (in Hazel Grove where Labour were third last time) , and as a lawyer, I'm interested in the comment that lawyers make bad MPs because they are more interested in detail than vision. I think there is probably some truth in this. But I don't think it necessarily applies to all of us. There are many different types of lawyers. I do serious injury, child abuse and disability rights cases, and I spend my working day immersed in the realities of vulnerable people's lives. This makes me very aware of society's failings, and the need for change. I don't think that's necessarily a bad preparation for being an MP. It's far more connected with people's lives than a job in the Westminster bubble.


Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#7)

by purelabour on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 05:21:35 PM GMT

Has Hull East been advertised yet?


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#8)

by bigpapi on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 08:05:32 PM GMT

Whilst not a prospective MP, my incumbent seems to have covered a number of bases, working for what was Inland Revenue, before setting up his own local charity working with children and young people with behavioural problems.

I'm not sure, however, that it has made any great difference to his politcal perspectives.


Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#9)

by alexhilton on Thu Sep 27, 2007 at 11:44:07 PM GMT

I'm not a candidate (yet!) but my view on this is simple.

There are a thousand talents we need in parliament and no candidate could possibly have all of them.

Lawyers could bring some of these talents - as can political hacks.

But so can bus drivers, librarians and call centre workers. So can 17-year old Emily Benn, who as a teenager is from one of the most comprehensively demonised demographics in Britain

There is a deep malaise where we have convinced the general public that politics is not an activity in which "normal" people should engage.

This is what needs fixing


Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#10)

by jljb2 on Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 06:29:03 PM GMT

not really relevant, but does anyone know what's happening in Birmingham Ladywood with Clare Short? She's one of my political heroes and I'd love to see her rejoin the PLP - but Gordon's priorities are not really Clare's (or mine!) at the minute so it looks unlikely. Have they started selections or anything does anyone know? For me she epitomises everything that's good about the Labour party, and it would be so sad if she didn't come back. Obviously if there's a snap election she won't because it would just look like opportunism...anyway, sorry for being off topic, just wondered if anyone knew anything?


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#11)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 07:53:50 PM GMT

I must say, that Clare Short is one of my least favourite MP's of all parties.


Whenever she speaks, she talks with such malice, hatred and bitterness and it's her kind of attitude that turns people off politics.

When Blair was leader, she went out of her way to bad-mouth him and the party at every opportunity she could.

I sincerely hope she never rejoins Labour and hopefully she'll lose in Birmingham Ladywood at the next election.


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#13)

by Andrea on Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 08:03:40 PM GMT

"hopefully she'll lose in Birmingham Ladywood at the next election."

I don't think she will stand at all


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#14)

by jljb2 on Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 09:27:31 PM GMT

I can't think of a more warm, compassionate politician i've ever heard; Clare cares genuinely about social justice in a way most New Labour MPs simply don't - she's a woman of fierce conviction, who rightly is angered by injustice or blocks to progress, and is not afraid to tell her truth. If all politicians were like her there;d be a hell of a lot more people involved in and excited by politics - just look at the huge applause she gets on Question Time for the things she says.


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#15)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 09:38:48 PM GMT

Question Time can hardly be used as an example of what people think! The only people who watch it or take part in it are people obsessed with politics (which is a very small minority sadly). As I've always said, I think the BBC stuff the QT audience full of LibDems because there's no way there's a fair balance of people in those audiences.

I think if all politicians were like Clare Short, we'd end up abandoning democracy! I just can't agree with you that she's warm or compassionate. I can imagine she'd be a nightmare to work with and she comes across as having a chip on her shoulder.


But anyway, I think she'd be the first to admit that the Labour party's not for her and I'd agree with that.


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#16)

by jljb2 on Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 10:40:31 PM GMT

Personally, I reckon having Clare as dictator would be a great reason for abandoning democracy! Trouble is the nice ones never fancy dictatorship...


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#17)

by jljb2 on Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 11:09:52 PM GMT

By the way, I've started a blog too if anyone fancies a read!: http://johnslabourblog.blogspot.com/


[ Parent ]

Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#18)

by bigpapi on Sat Sep 29, 2007 at 02:58:03 PM GMT

As a member of a West Midlands CLP, I can only say good riddance to Ms Short; in my 24 years active Party membership she has done nothing to help the Party in the Region, even before Blair.  When she was International Development Secretary we invited her, both verbally and in writing, to come and help us campaign against the BNP, but she never had the decency to even acknowledge our requests.

She may pretend to care, but from our experience it's clear that Clare looks after Clare and nobody else.


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#21)

by swatantra on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 04:55:03 PM GMT

Clare has always been of an independent mind and never a team player. Her parliamentary career is finished.


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#20)

by swatantra on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 04:52:04 PM GMT

Alex is quite right. The Party is not representative of its members, or the country, and this needs seriously looking into. 'Working Class' representation is seriously lacking. We need a system of proportionality introduced, and I don't know how it can be achieved except by selective shortlists. It could mean that some candidates will be elected, but others may well have to be apointed to the Commons to get that prortionality.


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#12)

by Reasonablesocialist on Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 08:01:40 PM GMT

Some really interesting views. I suppose what I was getting at in the original post was not what job are people doing when they are elected, but what range of experiences had they accrued in their time before becoming MPs?

I've no problem with people who have been employed as political hacks, just with those who have no other experience.  I've no doubt that the quality and breadth of your knowledge about peoples' lives in the UK before you become an MP has a tremendous impact on your ability to do the job well.  As grassroots members, lets ensure that our PPCs have that breadth of experience.


Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#22)

by Wilberforce on Sun Sep 30, 2007 at 10:13:57 PM GMT

Basically, we need people with life experience and not just party experience. Candidates and MPs who are able to understand and listen to their constituents and then empower their communities to change for the better.


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Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#23)

by purelabour on Mon Oct 01, 2007 at 01:56:14 PM GMT

Surely Quentin Davies is a dead cert for Hull East.


Re: How good are Labour's prospective MPs? (#25)

by bobbysilby on Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 09:34:09 PM GMT

Hull East timetabling is Tuesday night, lets see who applies then before we go attacking them all.


How good are Labour's prospective MPs? | 28 comments (28 topical)