I am standing for election AMA ( except anything political 😂 )

[OliviaCromwell]

😂Not coming here to discuss politics, just to share the experience of how the system works, if anyone is interested. I won't say what party I am standing for. I am happy to answer any questions about the process, and my own feelings and experiences.

What is a woman?

Can you at least tell us whether you are challenging the current government?

What do you think the biggest problem will be for you if you do get in?

Well, this is an interesting question in that I have very strong beliefs about this, which is at odds with some in my party, so this was the main issue I thought would disrupt my chances of selection.

In the event however, I was not asked directly anything about that in the selection process, or the hustings so far. if I am asked, I am likely to give a straightforward answer, shall we say.

How long is the selection process?

How did you get into politics?

But you can’t give us a straightforward answer

Read the op.
Got a question that's in line with what's on offer?

Which is?

Would you like me to be the cat?

Ate you the first person in your family to be involved in politics?
Are you family worried about your address being public information?

Ggrr auto correct

Are you concerned about the press dredging up anything you once posted on social media?

Do you think you can make a difference?

How will you balance 'the party line' with your own opinions?

Local or National ?

I could write pages and pages of political challenges, but you can get that from anywhere.

This thread is about the personal journey, so my own personal challenges will be trying to present myself well publicly. I have never been smartly dressed, or fashion conscious, and have never worn make up or anything like that. I am not naturally fluent, either, and while I am very well able to participate in any discussion or debate privately, I am likely to get very nervous and flumble about a bit when asked on the spot questions with a camera in my face - these are my main personal challenges - being basically a bit socially awkward.

Op states that they are open to questions about their own ‘feelings’.

George Galloway has just been voted in in Rochdale. In his campaign letter he stated “I have no problem defining what a woman is”.
He’s also going to sort out the Isreal and Palestine conflict apparently.

Have you read Politics on the Edge by Rory Stewart? If so does it make you dread being elected in? Do you listen to The rest is Politics? What do you think of it?

Why do I suspect you might be a Tory?

The selection process has been around 3 months long, and included interviews, statements, live hustings and media events.

I got into politics a few years ago when I had paid of my mortgage and was able to drop down to part time at work, meaning I could get more active in other areas. There were many local and national issues I had wanted to be involved in for many years prior to that, but did not have the time or energy.

I joined one party, then another, then settled on the one I felt aligned must closely to by own beliefs.

As I said, this is an AMA about the democratic process, and my personal experience of it, not a political thread, of which there are many. I am answering questions with the hope of making the process a bit more transparent and accessible.

OP if you can't answer the question 'what is a woman' as you have failed to do so far (your skirting around the edges of the question is politician speak at its finest), you are no better than your party.

Yes, I am the first person to be involved, although one of my children is now involved too, and yes, security fears are very real. I turned down the offer of standing in a byelection once, as that is even more threatening, as there are fewer candidates so each one gets so much more attention, and a lot of the attention is hostile, and threatening.

If elected, we would have to move, as I currently live in a ground floor flat, and am unable to take all the security precautions advised, such as proximity alarms, etc. We would have help with the cost of moving, and I think that is very important, as otherwise it excludes people who can't afford to move from the process.

However, in the election itself, addresses do not become public information, unless you agree to that. Your address can just be listed as the constituency you live in.

A smart Tory would stand as a Labour candidate under Starmer (where's the vomit emoji when you really need it?). OP may have paid off her mortgage, but she won't want to lose her deposit.

I have a question: do you have to be very scandal-free in your private life to be selected? I'm not talking about anything illegal (fraud et cetera) but things that might be embarrassing, like a ne'er-do-well ex who would sell stories, or having once been a member of the Socialist Workers in your misspent youth. Asking for a friend of course! ;)

Do you have any chance of being elected?

Do you fear dealing with the electorate who are either willfully ignorant or lacking basic reading skills as shown in this thread?

Are you worried about people you are connected too being targeted, do the party offer support on such matters?

I have nothing at all I am worried about in social media, so that is not an issue for me, and is one of the reasons I have been selected. I have never made a public social media post about anything other than sport in my whole life, so I am very lucky that was drilled into me very young, and I stuck to it.

You are right to raise this, as it is a massive problem. Young people often do not appreciate how one online rant can follow them for life, not just in politics, but in many professions.

I don't know if I can make a difference. I do know I am prepared to try

Balancing the party line with my own opinions - well, most of the time I agree with the party. In areas where I don't agree with the party, I don't know what will happen. I guess I will try and find a middle ground, or maybe fudge the issue a bit - I don't know. I am giving you honest answers here. I am not going to be standing up and shouting from the roof tops about anything I disagree with my party about. I am not going to say anything I think is morally wrong just because my party does. I am going to try and find a middle way, whatever that looks like