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Original poster

Has anyone thought of becoming an MP/Is anyone an MP/Is anyone's partner an MP or thinking of it etc

30 replies

IWonder · 28/09/2006 10:13

I was having a little rant about various things political to my DH recently, and he said "well, why don't you become an MP then, I think you'd be a really good one". I told him not to be silly, that I wasn't at all political, hadn't been reading the collected works of Marx/Churchill/whoever since the age of 6, it wasn't my thing at all. He said "well you are intelligent, articulate, passionate about what you believe in, I think you would be really good at it". I laughed.
He hasn't let it go though - he keeps saying that he thinks it is something I should think about, and despite myself, I have been.

So I just wondered if anyone else was considering it, or within the process, or had any experience generally. Could it work? I'm not working at the moment although have previously had a fairly intense career in the city and industry, so I know what it is to work hard. I do have young children and I live outside london, so that is an issue. I assume that if you do get the through the selection process to be a candidate then you first end up fighting an unwinnable seat somewhere completely unrelated to where you live, is that an absolutely 24 hour a day job? I assume it can't be, as lots of candidates still have day jobs elsewhere, but is that naive of me? I have about a million questions, but I guess I just want to know what people think about whether this is a stupid idea for a woman with small children and a working husband, or whether I should continue my quiet life and maybe become a magistrate or something to get my public service conscience satisfied.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 28/09/2006 10:14

No, I have never thought of becoming an MP.

I'd rather shovel sh*£ w/a teaspoon, tbh.

Original poster
IWonder · 28/09/2006 10:23

So no views then, apart from the Yank who probably isn't eligible anyway

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 28/09/2006 10:24

I'm a naturalised British citizen, thanks much.

Even have the right to vote.

Wow!

UnquietDad · 28/09/2006 10:28

IWonder:

this
may answer some of your questions. No idea why the only place this info seems to be availbale is on an LGBT website, but there you are!

foxinsocks · 28/09/2006 10:37

I think if you want to do it, then go for it. Lots of MPs have young families. Your dh would need to be totally supportive though (that would apply to any full time job I imagine).

Read some of the MP blogs (if you can find one). I think the best way to get noticed is to join your local party - start getting friendly with the right people and help out with campaigning. Sounds like you have a lot of skills that would be useful.

I really can't see the harm in trying it out.

fairyjay · 28/09/2006 10:38

Two friends of mine have been/are keen to become MP's. Their involvement was with the Tories. One guy went to various group meetings to assess suitability etc., and was selected to fight a seat a couple of elections ago. He lost! Another is an extremely hard-working councillor, who does a hell of a lot for the community - I just hope that it pays off for him in the end.

tissy · 28/09/2006 10:41

how about starting off with the local council? Closer to home, and gives you a feel for the sort of thing that goes on- doubt if you would get straight to Westminster without some kind of prior experience.

Loshad · 28/09/2006 10:44

used to be very political, and yes it's a 24 h/day job fighting your seat. Don't think you would stand much chance of being selcted anywhere, for any party tbh without a lot of experince first at local level - so join your local party of choice and get stuck in and start campaigning.

mancmum · 28/09/2006 11:11

I know a bit about this as have worked for local MP... you need to decide if you want to stand as an independant or a member of an established party... if you know the party, then you need to join and start networking like mad... then you get onto short lists for various constituencies that can be miles away from where you live and you have to show how commited you are to that area...so lots of travel and work before you even get selected to represent at next election.. and then you are expected to spend a lot of time in the area on the campaingn trail for the timeleading up to the election... you need to have proved yourself in local politics to stand a good chance of selection, although sometimes just being famous and rich can help bypass this stage...

Might be easier to go down the independant route - but that requires you to build team, raise finances etc

Original poster
IWonder · 28/09/2006 11:54

Not rich, not famous I'm afraid . It also sounds very expensive just trying to be a candidate and fighting a seat from what I've discovered. So consensus is that it is not impossible but very full on time-,and best to try and be a councillor first, is it?
Thanks, I appreciate the thoughts.

OP posts:
WelshBoris · 28/09/2006 11:56

Well you obviously have no tact so I think you will do great

Piffle · 28/09/2006 12:00

Get involved at local level - campaigning, leaflet pushing - assuming you are likely to go through a party process?
Or via the council set up.

Ps shitty reply to expat FWIW

Tommy · 28/09/2006 12:00

I have a freind who stood for Parliament last time. She didn't get in although she is now on the local council which I think is a good place to start. She found it all very hard work (not least because she is single and sais she really missed having a partner around for support)but she did enjoy it and wants to try again next time - probably in a different constituency.

Agree with the others that you need to pick a party and get really involved locally. If you want to be independent you have to have a really good cause and/or a lot resources to finance you etc.

Good luck

QueenPeaHead · 28/09/2006 12:20

Well I read that reply to expat as a joke (otherwise why did she put a big grin?!). Presumably this is a regular poster who has changed her name, and "knows" expat is from the states. Anyway.

I don't have any personal experience but know a few people who are doing this, one who has jsut gone through the process of selection (and was pipped to the post by "the black farmer" - much discussion about him being parachuted in because he is famous, has only been a party member for 3 months or something). Seems to be really full time, lots of travelling, lots of local events with only 25 people turning up, at which you have to buy £30 of raffle tickets each time etc. I agree with whoever said that you have to get your dh on board, seems to be something that needs lots of support to keep the wheels on the bus, as it were.

FrannyandZooey · 28/09/2006 12:21

I thought it was a joke, too. I think you are seen as a robust and humorous poster who can stand a bit of ribbing, expat - it didn't seem malicious to me.

expatinscotland · 28/09/2006 12:21

Expat is eligible both to vote AND to become an MP, FWIW, b/c expat is now a Brit.

My daughters have dual nationality from birth.

They didn't have to study for those citizenship tests!

FrankButcher · 28/09/2006 12:22

My neighbour and friend is our local MP.
Welsh Nationalist politician.
He loves it but is ground down by the work and drudgery of it.
Has aged so much in last 8 years.
Harangued by people wherever he goes.
(Brill fun to sdit in his kirchen with glass of wine and hear latest HC gossip though!)

QueenPeaHead · 28/09/2006 12:25

you keep your britishness mighty quiet expat!
just drag it out when it is useful, huh? fairweather bloody brit.

(I'm not a brit either, btw. dang, there goes my parliamentary career...)

expatinscotland · 28/09/2006 12:27

It's handy for moving to France, PH .

My mother has a French passport b/c of her mum, so she traipses in and out of here as she pleases.

PcCOD · 28/09/2006 12:32

rubber chicken
dh is also a crap brit

CountessDracula · 28/09/2006 12:33

I know a couple of mps one is now in the lords, I saw him at a party the other week and we were discussing whether he had liked the commons etc. He seemed quite happy with it in retrospect but I do remember a few years ago he got v unhappy with having to be nice and well behaved all the time and became rather unpleasent at home as a result. He got over it though. IIRC he was a civil engineer before, I don't think your background is particularly important (other than I assume you have a fairly squeaky background and didn't used to defraud the dss or smoke crack or anything.)

I don't think you can work while actively campaigning for a seat, you have to do a lot of legwork. Maybe you could take a sabbatical. I would say living outside London would make it harder for you as a mother, are you a long way away?

desperateSCOUSEwife · 28/09/2006 12:41

no I like fighting them
not joining the bunch of corrupt wankers

acnebride · 28/09/2006 12:48

I'd agree, start with the council. My sister-in-law's brother (don't know if that's brother-in-law or not) was an MP for quite a while but lost his seat after a bit. He enjoyed it I think, although his children were older.

Why not contact your MP and ask to meet with him/her at the House of Commons with a view to having his/her job in a few years' time?

FrankButcher · 28/09/2006 12:51

I reckon politics would be surprisingly easy to get into,seeing as it interests hardly anyone.

Tedious but perfectly possible trajectory from meeting in draughty village hall to discuss new roof and problem with used condoms in the grounds to sitting on a Select Committee and going on 'factfinfing' jaunts to Turks & Caicos.

katyt1 · 29/09/2006 11:22

Hi, my dh is an MP and I can answer some of your questions if you want.
firstly, hard hard hard work & vvvv long hours
but then there's recess...which isn't all a holiday despite everyone thinking it is (anyone here a teacher? it's pretty similar!).
secondly, money.....you need financial support to not work full-time when you need to campaign, etc.
thirdly, seat options: when you start off yes generally you need to 'cut your teeth' on a no-hoper, then move onto better chances. it's poss to do from outside london, lots do, but the nearer london you are the easier it is to have a family life.
4, family & friends, massive support needed, esp for your kids.
5, THICK skin!!! and that's goes for your family too

sure there's lots more, ask away!
kt