Monday 18 May 2009

What an imposition

On an earlier post, A Little Bit More about Expenses, the Bristol Blogger and I got into a bit of a discussion about the cost of getting selected/ elected as a Labour MP, where I said that the only way round the cost issue would be central imposition of candidates.

Here's a teaser then - which member of the current Cabinet was 'imposed' on the local party by the National Executive shortly before a General Election? (I think I might be right in saying s/he's the only Labour MP in Parliament who was selected without local party members having any say). And which other member of the current Cabinet was on the two-person shortlist?

4 comments:

Sadie Smith said...

Was the first one Alan Johnson?

Kerry said...

Well that's rather spoilt it, hasn't it! Possibly quite a good argument for more centrally imposed candidates, methinks!

BevaniteEllie said...

if he's the result then central imposition all the way. please.

Anonymous said...

More local candidates please.

"discussion about the cost of getting selected/ elected as a Labour MP, where I said that the only way round the cost issue would be central imposition of candidates."

There was more to it than that, Kerry. The discussion ended with people concluding that experienced local candidates have a great advantage, in terms of both cost and being in touch.

It seems so obvious, that you'd think choosing a local candidate should be the default setting for selection committees. For everyone's benefit.