tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post3173931278051601704..comments2023-10-27T07:50:27.411+01:00Comments on Next Left: Last dance for no-links candidatesTom Hampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917325958130851128noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-44784002901133840032009-08-07T23:06:17.121+01:002009-08-07T23:06:17.121+01:00For what it's worth, I increasingly think the ...For what it's worth, I increasingly think the constituency-tie aspect of our democracy is slightly nuts.<br /><br />Constituents increasingly expect their MP to sort out problems for them which until relatively recently would have been taken to councillors (as you say in the OP). More and more it seems to go direct to the MP now.<br /><br />Which would be fine...except that the MP is also supposed to be a national legislator, either taking part in active government or holding government to account, usually many miles from the constituency seat.<br /><br />The situation is one where MPs are effectively being asked to do two jobs: by a local problem-fixer and grass-roots issue solver, whilst also being a national lawmaker/scrutinser.<br /><br />The result is that it's very, very difficult to do both jobs properly or fully.<br /><br />Originally, the idea of the constituency link was that the MP would go off and represent the interests of the contituents in Parliament. Now the MP is expected to deal with the interests of constituents locally *as well as* representing in Parliament.<br /><br />Constituents demanding that MPs increasingly herald from their town seems to me part of this trend of expecting MPs to be local people sorting out local problems, rather than national legislators.<br /><br />Which is why I think worthwhile constitutional reform might consider having elected local mayors to take on the casework-style aspects of an MP's job in the form of one directly elected public figurehead (as oppose to many councillors), with MPs being dedicated to national legislation, scrutiny and oversight. They could retain a constituency link, insofar as they are elected by the constituency and are expected (when appropriate) to work nationally for that constituency, and be assessed on that basis.<br /><br />But it's nuts to expect our MPs to be sorting out the issue of dog poo on local playing fields one minute, and scrutinising passages of the Finance Bill the next.<br /><br />[Sorry for repeating some of your points a bit, my head is a mush tonight. ps I work for an MP)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-73244885718034079682009-08-07T22:26:47.125+01:002009-08-07T22:26:47.125+01:00OK so we have open primaries - so how then do you ...OK so we have open primaries - so how then do you ensure that your strongest candidates - your experienced cabinet ministers - get placed in the seats most likely to secure election ?<br /><br />Not a problem ? Well maybe it's a problem that no one living in a strong Tory area will be able to secure a seat in parliament, because where I live it wouldn't really matter whether they had an open primary or they drew the names out of a hat - it ain't gonna be Labour winning this seat any time soon. Actually though if it were an open primary I'd far sooner vote for a Minister as a candidate than someone unknown outside the local area who was chancing his arm.<br /><br />If a party is a party, then the idea is that the members act together in concerted efforts to promote the party - not get non-members to vote for whoever they want to stand for them. <br /><br />If a non-member gets to vote in a primary what on earth is the point of being a member ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-22168555730013422882009-08-07T11:35:47.659+01:002009-08-07T11:35:47.659+01:00Hi Rachel,
Worth noting that one effect of this w...Hi Rachel,<br /><br />Worth noting that one effect of this will be to increase the cost of trying to become an MP.<br /><br />If, in addition to all the current costs involved in trying to seek selection, people need to have a home in the constituency then it reduces the number of people who can afford to put themselves forward.donpaskinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05963534291677598324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-25078358809846559592009-08-07T05:44:26.412+01:002009-08-07T05:44:26.412+01:00There are more implications to this than I feel ...There are more implications to this than I feel you have considered.If , as seems likely an open Primary confer a significant advantage on the candidate , New Labour may be forced to follow suit.<br />What happens then to the issues where the Party disagrees with most of its voters <br />1 Immigration<br />2 Criminal Justice <br />3 Social progressivism ( in all its forms ) <br /><br />The left have avoided the debate with real people by the use of class entryism into the Party and its positions of power. Could you parachute a Caroline Flint onto a Working Class Constituency represented by male miners for a century ?<br /><br />Open and properly accountable democracy is adanger to the left hence their liking for the Eu , PR and other ways of avoiding itNewmaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11922161971821380803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-67961498454348009892009-08-06T21:33:06.498+01:002009-08-06T21:33:06.498+01:00*This* is a very good post - thanks.*This* is a very good post - thanks.Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.com