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.

Thank you. That is very kind.

I think very few people end up with a party that they agree with on everything.

I think the best you can hope for is one with the same broad principles, then join and work to change it from within!

I think the answer to both you questions is yes, yes I have changed my views on some things. Not completely changed them, but softened some hard lines I took when I was younger. Priorities also change, if you believe one issue is critical, and you are in agreement with the party on that issue, you are prepared to let other issues go, if they are a lot less important to you.

And yes, my party has also changed its stance on some things, partly in response to changing times, and partly as a response to the democratic processes within the party.

Which goes back to my point, that if you feel no party is the right fit for you, go with the one that is closest, and argue your points from within. If enough people feel the same, the party's policies will be changed.

I have two issues that are absolute priorities for me, that I think are more important than anything else, and that influence everything else, and sometimes those two issues are actually in conflict! There is no easy answer but getting the right balance between these two massive priorities is the aim of everything I do.

Presumably you're already doing your doorstep canvassing and campaigning so how are you being received, given that you're new?

Really really interesting, thanks for the thread. And thanks for not getting into the actual politics (can totally see it would be a de-rail)

My question is: I've always seen political parties as being very cliquey, all about who you know, making allies and getting your face known, etc. and in line with that, quite a lot of the time put in being social/clubby stuff (evening drinks etc). What's your experience been like, have you had to do lots of that kind of networking so you're known by the local party/influential members, or is selection a bit more like going for a job interview in that anyone can apply and stand a chance?

I have stood before, so I am already on the list of possibles.

I was approached originally, and sounded out, a few years back.

I was asked if I would agree to my name being put forward for consideration, so someone nominated me, then I was asked to apply. I applied with references, statements and nominations, then was chosen for the last GE.

Constituencies are ranked according to budget and time spent on them during campaigning. You can state what level constituency you want to stand in. Lots of people want to stand in low priority constituencies, with lesser budgets, and lesser chances of being elected. I did that last time.

Then I was asked to stand in a by election, and very much did not want to. I eventually agreed reluctantly, but only if there was no one else who was willing to do it - there was little to no chance of being elected, but it was quite a vicious campaign, and I did not want all the abuse that came with it. Thankfully someone else did it that time.

This time I was approached again, and asked to apply for a higher priority constituency. So I applied again, and was chosen. This time I applied with a constituency in mind - last time I was allocated the closest low priority constituency to my home, although I didn't know which one I would be offered when I applied.

I am not particularly new, as I know this area well, and have been active here for a while. I am being reasonably well received. Two people gave me a very firm "no thank you" this morning, but all others were willing to talk a few minutes. I wasn't door knocking, I was at a public event. I approached a few people, and a few people approached me, all very informal. (There were four of us from the party, I was not alone). Several members of the public knew my name - I've had links to this area for over a decade.

I think it varies hugely from party to party and from area to area within the same party. My own personal experience is I avoid the top dogs, even in my own party. They never seem genuine about anything, and are all about appearances - I am probably doing them a disservice! They are probably just good at being media savvy - but I am not, and don't fit in with that crowd at all.

I know the people I have been active with on various local projects and campaigns. I do enjoy a natter and a drink in the pub after. I hope we are not cliquey. I think for me I don't have any serious personal ambition, so it isn't a case of being best known, or getting competitive. Its just, am I a good person to represent the party in this constituency, this is who I am, the party decides. If so, great, if someone else is better, also great, I would support them whole heartedly.

You apply to the leaders, but your pitch goes out to the whole party, and the whole party can vote - in my case I was unopposed. If I had been opposed, I would probably have stood down - like I say, I am not competitive or ambitious. I want the party to do well, and I want my pet priorities to be at the forefront of what we do. I can work for that from a back seat or a front seat.

I think there are barriers to applying to stand as a candidate. There should not be but there is. For example, I mentioned earlier that we would have to move if elected, as you are supposed to have proximity alarms around your residence, which I can't have on a ground floor flat. So people not willing or able to move would have an issue there.

And of course, I have time to be political. I work part time. I have a sympathetic employer. My mortgage is paid. At other times of my life, working full time, raising young children or with a mortgage to worry about, I didn't have time to be political.

And as a single mother, I had very little opportunity to be politically active when I was younger. No childcare for one thing!

edited for grammar!

Thanks for the answer. It sounds tricky! Do you have potential MP colleagues who share your priorities and would work with you towards achieving your goals?

Also, is it explicit in your campaign material and events that these are your two main priorities? If so, are they also your party's top priorities, medium priorities or not a priority in the party's upcoming election manifesto?

They are both in my party's top 5 priorities, which is why I joined this party in particular. I would say their top 5 priorities are my top 5 priorities. Yes, I am explicit, and yes, most of my colleagues in the party would work with me on these two. We spend a lot of time working on these two anyway, so it isn't anything unusual for my party.

Thanks for the answer - that's what I wanted to hear. I'm a member of a political party and also an activist (when I have time). It matters a great deal to me when I'm doing doorstep canvassing or campaigning that the candidate I'm helping is aligned with the national party's priorities and that these are explicit on the campaign material. Good luck (unless you're on the other side 😎)

Thank you for this, it's such an interesting topic but really quite opaque to outsiders!

I wondered, if you were elected do you have in mind a particular cabinet/shadow cabinet post that you might be interested in? And how does getting those jobs work - merit/expertise, interested in the brief, friends with the right people, etc.?

"You apply to the leaders, but your pitch goes out to the whole party, and the whole party can vote - in my case I was unopposed."

I know you're not going to say what party you represent but I can't think of a mainstream party that selects its candidates via a whole party vote. It's usually the just the constituency members who vote, unless it's an open selection. Did you mean the whole constituency party instead?

yes, that is correct, sorry - only members in the constituency votes, but the information is available to the whole party. Someone else can object - I don't think it is very likely. I can see who is standing in other parts of the country, and see their details - I would not vote automatically, but if I had a particular concern I can raise it.

Did you win?!

I came here to see if you won too @OliviaCromwell

Maybe OP is too busy to return!

How did you do? Win/lose/lost deposit?