[Politics] Does it matter where constituency candidates come from?

[Sorrel]

Not so much where they come from for me, but I do care about their connection to the local area. I live in the Sussex Weald constituency and I met the Labour Party candidate* this afternoon, who was very keen to emphasise his connections to Sussex (it being Sussex Day) - but he has none really to this constituency.

Ideally the candidate I'd like would be someone who knows the area well and lives in the constituency. Of our nine candidates five meet this.

Our Conservative candidate has been MP here since the mid 2010s and so of course knows the constituency well now - but they were not local when they arrived - demonstrating that an outside candidate can win and can learn the place: she certainly gets around the place if the photo ops she regularly does are anything to go by.

*I was impressed with the Labour candidate, but maybe not to the extent of voting for them.

 

[BBassic]

I live in East Worthing. Couldn't give less of a f*** about where the candidates live.

The important thing for me, call it blinkered, call it childish, call it whatever - the important thing is whether they're a poxy Tory or not.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

I think they should reside in the area they represent but, on this one occasion, going to let him off just to try and change the Shoreham blue rinses to a redder colour.

 

[pb21]

It does matter, but it's not a prerequisite.

Conversely I have noticed some candidates make a massive deal about being local, or having local connections. I'm not going to vote for someone just because they grew up in, or have an uncle from, the area I live in.

 

[B-right-on]

Liz from Labour bravely made her way up my drive a few evenings ago to ask me about my voting intentions.

I say bravely because Henry, my large Labrador, was barking quite ferociously at her whilst I sat on the doorstep dripping with sweat having just completed a run.

Henry's a complete softy, but she wasn't to know that.

Anyway, at the end of our chat she asked me how likely out of 10 I was to vote for Labour. I said six. If I had ten voting probability points to distribute, the Liberal Democats would have the remaining four.

Yesterday I did a bit of research on Tom Rutland, the Labour candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham, and quickly found out he was recently a councillor in Lambeth. He resigned to pursue his Parliamentary ambitions. From best I can tell he has absolutely no connection to this area at all, it's just a vehicle to get him to where he wants to be. That's Westminster, not West Sussex.

East Worthing and Shoreham comes calling for Labour Cllr Tom Rutland as Streatham residents seek out their missing man

If you’re a resident in Streatham Common and Vale ward then Saturday might be a momentous morning for you

www.brixtonbuzz.com

AWOL Labour Cllr Tom Rutland finally resigns from Lambeth Council to concentrate on becoming the next MP for East Shoreham and Worthing

Two by-elections now look set to take place in Lambeth following the resignation of yet another Lambeth Labour Councillor.

www.brixtonbuzz.com

My Labour voting probability is now zero out of ten.

I know all parties do this to some degree or another, but that doesn't make it right. I just don't want to vote for someone who has little/no connection to the local area.

This subject came up in this thread, and @arewethereyet?'s views mirror my own.

So, does it matter to you where a candidate comes from?

I've posted this before on one of the politics threads. Additional to your points is that
1. He has absolutely zero connection to the area (as some suggestions he might have, my neighbour works at the same place as him).

2. He was picked by the Labour Party over 2 very decent local candidates. Very much a political appointment.

3. The Cons candidate is a local mum of 2 with kids in Shoreham Academy, worked in the NHS in Shoreham and Worthing for 15 years and is as local as you can get. But got Sunak as her leader.

 

[jcdenton08]

I would absolutely like MPs to know their constituency, as an absolute minimum. That said, the practice - from all parties - of parachuting in candidates to targeted constituencies makes absolute sense. In some constituencies where, say, Lib Dems don’t have a hope in hell of winning they’ll just enter a local student or something.

If they had a crack at winning, it would be the right thing to do and responsible to the party and wider democracy to select a better candidate who could win - and moreover would be more competent if elected.

That said, the best MP local to me I’ve ever known was a pure constituency man, Stephen Lloyd for Eastbourne as a Lib Dem, later Independent.

Lloyd lived in town, and was and still is a highly visible and well loved member of the community.

He was hugely involved in saving the District General Hospital, which we very nearly lost, worked with the Sheikh to bring money into Eastbourne, held regular surgeries and was considered by all sides of politics a very decent man.

He had a moral compass, regularly voted against Lib Dem policy which went against the values he believed the Lib Dems stood for, eventually even resigning the party whip.

If every town and city had a Stephen Lloyd or an Andy Burnham (as mayor, but still counts) the country would improve hugely.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I would absolutely like MPs to know their constituency, as an absolute minimum. That said, the practice - from all parties - of parachuting in candidates to targeted constituencies makes absolute sense. In some constituencies where, say, Lib Dems don’t have a hope in hell of winning they’ll just enter a local student or something.

If they had a crack at winning, it would be the right thing to do and responsible to the party and wider democracy to select a better candidate who could win - and moreover would be more competent if elected.

That said, the best MP local to me I’ve ever known was a pure constituency man, Stephen Lloyd for Eastbourne as a Lib Dem, later Independent.

Lloyd lived in town, and was and still is a highly visible and well loved member of the community.

He was hugely involved in saving the District General Hospital, which we very nearly lost, worked with the Sheikh to bring money into Eastbourne, held regular surgeries and was considered by all sides of politics a very decent man.

He had a moral compass, regularly voted against Lib Dem policy which went against the values he believed the Lib Dems stood for, eventually even resigning the party whip.

If every town and city had a Stephen Lloyd or an Andy Burnham (as mayor, but still counts) the country would improve hugely.

A good point about the right person to do a job. If a Liverpudlian can be a successful Mayor of Greater Manchester, then it reinforces the need for talent over where you’re from.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I would absolutely like MPs to know their constituency, as an absolute minimum. That said, the practice - from all parties - of parachuting in candidates to targeted constituencies makes absolute sense. In some constituencies where, say, Lib Dems don’t have a hope in hell of winning they’ll just enter a local student or something.

If they had a crack at winning, it would be the right thing to do and responsible to the party and wider democracy to select a better candidate who could win - and moreover would be more competent if elected.

That said, the best MP local to me I’ve ever known was a pure constituency man, Stephen Lloyd for Eastbourne as a Lib Dem, later Independent.

Lloyd lived in town, and was and still is a highly visible and well loved member of the community.

He was hugely involved in saving the District General Hospital, which we very nearly lost, worked with the Sheikh to bring money into Eastbourne, held regular surgeries and was considered by all sides of politics a very decent man.

He had a moral compass, regularly voted against Lib Dem policy which went against the values he believed the Lib Dems stood for, eventually even resigning the party whip.

If every town and city had a Stephen Lloyd or an Andy Burnham (as mayor, but still counts) the country would improve hugely.

To pick out your last sentence, I am confident that Starmer will be PM for two terms but I so hope Labour move Andy Burnham into position during this time so he can have a run at being PM. I think he will be superb and a leader many will get behind.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

A good point about the right person to do a job. If a Liverpudlian can be a successful Mayor of Greater Manchester, then it reinforces the need for talent over where you’re from.

This.

 

[jcdenton08]

To pick out your last sentence, I am confident that Starmer will be PM for two terms but I so hope Labour move Andy Burnham into position during this time so he can have a run at being PM. I think he will be superb and a leader many will get behind.

I absolutely agree, when Starmer’s “natural cycle” as PM comes to an end, Burnham would be the natural fit - with moderates around him to keep everything sensible. I find Burnham endlessly impressive, but I’d need to hear more about his views on things like defence before backing him.

 

[tedebear]

I've posted this before on one of the politics threads. Additional to your points is that
1. He has absolutely zero connection to the area (as some suggestions he might have, my neighbour works at the same place as him).

2. He was picked by the Labour Party over 2 very decent local candidates. Very much a political appointment.

3. The Cons candidate is a local mum of 2 with kids in Shoreham Academy, worked in the NHS in Shoreham and Worthing for 15 years and is as local as you can get. But got Sunak as her leader.

The Conservative candidate is a strange one, haven't had her or her team knock on my door yet, but if thats not a "political appointment" as well then I'll eat my hat...although its weird that two of the issues here are Worthing hospital waiting times and lack of seconday school places, both caused by Tory mismanagement, and those are the two things she's proud of. Working in the NHS she should be well aware of what her own party has done?

 

[borat]

Luke Akehurst is the probably the worst example of this practice. Parachuted in for Labour and a disgusting individual. Lucky North Durham constituents....

 

[Guinness Boy]

What I want is the best talent running the country.

How many MPs is a government likely to have - 327 to 400ish generally.

So naturally you’re bound to have talented people potentially stacked in some areas over others. I’d rather have the right people in Parliament over coming from the right area.

Being from that area is a nice bonus, the most important thing is listening and understanding local issues, but you don’t need to be from there to get it.

I'm afraid you're just not going to get that. At the risk of repetition and recency bias I'm going to mention Rory Stewart's book again. He found MPs a very odd bunch because he wanted to get stuff done and many MPs couldn't have cared less about it. Then, even when the ones who did got Ministerial jobs they were reshuffled every five minutes. He also paints a picture of 'Sir Humphrey' civil servants, but wouldn't you be when you got a new boss or even two every year?

What many are interested in is power and their own fortune or ego. You can see that when the local Tories put people like Timmy and Ivan forward for local council wards. And it increases as you go up.

I'm not saying 'they're all the same' because clearly Caroline Lucas or Peter Kyle are different to some Reform quarter wit who loves Hitler but 330 decent ones in a government? You'll get less than 50, regardless of rosette.

 

[ManOfSussex]

The Tories have parachuted Kieran Mullen in as their candidate in Bexhill and Battle. He was pary of 2019 red wall Tory MP intake and the boundary review of his Crewe and Nantwich constituency made him even more vulnerable to losing his seat.

Mr Azad from The Shiplu restaurant in Bexhill is so pissed off they didn't pick him as their candidate instead though that he's standing an independent.

 

[Machiavelli]

In East Worthing, the contest seems to be between the Tories and Labour. For me, that would be the key factor in deciding my vote:

Tactical voting in East Worthing and Shoreham

tactical.vote | General Election 2024

tactical.vote

 

[Bold Seagull]

I'm afraid you're just not going to get that. At the risk of repetition and recency bias I'm going to mention Rory Stewart's book again. He found MPs a very odd bunch because he wanted to get stuff done and many MPs couldn't have cared less about it. Then, even when the ones who did got Ministerial jobs they were reshuffled every five minutes. He also paints a picture of 'Sir Humphrey' civil servants, but wouldn't you be when you got a new boss or even two every year?

What many are interested in is power and their own fortune or ego. You can see that when the local Tories put people like Timmy and Ivan forward for local council wards. And it increases as you go up.

I'm not saying 'they're all the same' because clearly Caroline Lucas or Peter Kyle are different to some Reform quarter wit who loves Hitler but 330 decent ones in a government? You'll get less than 50, regardless of rosette.

Quite, and sort of my point that I’d rather have the person with a degree in economics or the right experience than the person round the corner who’s main focus is getting the shed on the Rec replaced.

 

[Giraffe]

I’m policy driven predominantly. But who the local MP is certainly not irrelevant. Because of the daft boundary changes in our area I can’t vote for the current MP that I really liked, and who is very much a Sussex man. As a result I wont be voting Tory as I was on the fence anyway but may have voted for him. But now no chance.

 

[Molango's visa]

I would absolutely like MPs to know their constituency, as an absolute minimum. That said, the practice - from all parties - of parachuting in candidates to targeted constituencies makes absolute sense. In some constituencies where, say, Lib Dems don’t have a hope in hell of winning they’ll just enter a local student or something.

If they had a crack at winning, it would be the right thing to do and responsible to the party and wider democracy to select a better candidate who could win - and moreover would be more competent if elected.

That said, the best MP local to me I’ve ever known was a pure constituency man, Stephen Lloyd for Eastbourne as a Lib Dem, later Independent.

Lloyd lived in town, and was and still is a highly visible and well loved member of the community.

He was hugely involved in saving the District General Hospital, which we very nearly lost, worked with the Sheikh to bring money into Eastbourne, held regular surgeries and was considered by all sides of politics a very decent man.

He had a moral compass, regularly voted against Lib Dem policy which went against the values he believed the Lib Dems stood for, eventually even resigning the party whip.

If every town and city had a Stephen Lloyd or an Andy Burnham (as mayor, but still counts) the country would improve hugely.

But they will have to work with others in government to get things done. You can't just be a one man pressure group. And if you keep voting against your own party you may end up like Jeremy Corbyn. Out on your arse howling at the moon.

 

[Molango's visa]

I’m policy driven predominantly. But who the local MP is certainly not irrelevant. Because of the daft boundary changes in our area I can’t vote for the current MP that I really liked, and who is very much a Sussex man. As a result I wont be voting Tory as I was on the fence anyway but may have voted for him. But now no chance.

Did you not say you were voting Reform? Apologies if I have mixed you up with another moderator.

 

[Questions]

Sorry to derail, but I have to do it to make my point

If the Tories are kicked out isn't that all that really matters?

It's a nice bonus if they are from the area.

Yeah let’s get the Tories out and all that but this always sticks in my craw. Labour sent Tony Ben’s granddaughter down here a while back to cut her teeth in a campaign. f***ing hated it.