Should election candidates publish home town?
Discussion
Every election, whether local or national, one of the criteria I look at is "where do the candidates live?". This can be surprisingly hard to find.
When I have asked "which town/village does your candidate live in?" some of the party faithful get very defensive, as if I've asked for the full address, location of any spare keys and the code for his burglar alarm.
My logic is that an MP who does not live in my area, has never lived in my area and clearly has his life established far away from my area, will not experience the issues being experienced by the people he represents. I want s
t local services for me to mean st local services for him too. I want him to see the same drug dealers, the same absence of police (assuming it's not the month before a PCC election), to also be faced with the dilemma of whether he should wait for an ambulance or driving hell for leather to the same A&E department. He's in a unique position to do something about it, even if just to stand up in parliament and whinge.
So, would you support the idea of prospective MPs (and councillors) being obliged to give some idea of where they actually live on their materials instead of the local party HQ (if they live in a small settlement where you could figure out their house easily, then maybe "near Royston Vasey" or similar)?
When I have asked "which town/village does your candidate live in?" some of the party faithful get very defensive, as if I've asked for the full address, location of any spare keys and the code for his burglar alarm.
My logic is that an MP who does not live in my area, has never lived in my area and clearly has his life established far away from my area, will not experience the issues being experienced by the people he represents. I want s
t local services for me to mean st local services for him too. I want him to see the same drug dealers, the same absence of police (assuming it's not the month before a PCC election), to also be faced with the dilemma of whether he should wait for an ambulance or driving hell for leather to the same A&E department. He's in a unique position to do something about it, even if just to stand up in parliament and whinge.So, would you support the idea of prospective MPs (and councillors) being obliged to give some idea of where they actually live on their materials instead of the local party HQ (if they live in a small settlement where you could figure out their house easily, then maybe "near Royston Vasey" or similar)?
I would encourage this as well. Your "local" MP should be local enough to be one of the people, and candidates who want to be your MP should be the same - publish where their main home is and where they spend most of their time. If most of their time is spent doing other things other than looking after their constituents, then what value are they adding as your local MP?
s1962a said:
I would encourage this as well. Your "local" MP should be local enough to be one of the people, and candidates who want to be your MP should be the same - publish where their main home is and where they spend most of their time. If most of their time is spent doing other things other than looking after their constituents, then what value are they adding as your local MP?
While I broadly agree with the concept that the constituency electorate should know how long (or even if) the person has lived there, in terms of the latter point it doesn’t really work of your local MP also becomes a minister (or has another job, which is a different conversation entirely).Yep. And notice how often it's Tory. My previous Tory MP/candidate lived over 100 miles away, it was found out.
The current Tory prospect is a very well-known ex-Olympian. No way in a million years he lives anywhere near. I should have asked him directly when he knocked on my door a week ago.
I know where the local Labour candidate lives, and I see/work with the Lib-Dem candidate so often he's almost a friend, I even know what his cat is called.
The current Tory prospect is a very well-known ex-Olympian. No way in a million years he lives anywhere near. I should have asked him directly when he knocked on my door a week ago.
I know where the local Labour candidate lives, and I see/work with the Lib-Dem candidate so often he's almost a friend, I even know what his cat is called.
It all depends on your definition of lives as well. Our Conservative candidate who was our MP until Parliament was dissolved says she lives in the constituency and definitely rents a house in the area, but her children attend state schools elsewhere.
Personally I think I would prefer a good candidate who will represent their constituents rather than a useless local candidate
Personally I think I would prefer a good candidate who will represent their constituents rather than a useless local candidate
paulrockliffe said:
It's literally on the nomination form and a matter of public record whether the Candidates live in the Constituency. How can you not find it out? There are literally websites set up to tell you exactly which candidates have been parachuted in.
Link? Would be handy as the only ones I've seen point to a constituency based office (e.g. local club for that party).Chrisgr31 said:
Personally I think I would prefer a good candidate who will represent their constituents rather than a useless local candidate
Good luck with that 
I should stress this is just one criterion. I'm not going to vote for a turd sandwich just because he's local, conversely I wouldn't vote for an MP just because they belong to the party I have slightly less contempt for.
donkmeister said:
paulrockliffe said:
It's literally on the nomination form and a matter of public record whether the Candidates live in the Constituency. How can you not find it out? There are literally websites set up to tell you exactly which candidates have been parachuted in.
Link? Would be handy as the only ones I've seen point to a constituency based office (e.g. local club for that party).Rusty Old-Banger said:
donkmeister said:
paulrockliffe said:
It's literally on the nomination form and a matter of public record whether the Candidates live in the Constituency. How can you not find it out? There are literally websites set up to tell you exactly which candidates have been parachuted in.
Link? Would be handy as the only ones I've seen point to a constituency based office (e.g. local club for that party).donkmeister said:
paulrockliffe said:
It's literally on the nomination form and a matter of public record whether the Candidates live in the Constituency. How can you not find it out? There are literally websites set up to tell you exactly which candidates have been parachuted in.
Link? Would be handy as the only ones I've seen point to a constituency based office (e.g. local club for that party).https://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/your-council/elections...
edit: I haven't heard about the parachuted candidates list though
Edited by Gareth79 on Monday 1st July 14:32
I'd go harder.
They shouldn't be allowed to stand unless they've lived in the constituency for a decent period of time.
They could use similar criteria to how they assess where you pay Council Tax or similar. But they should know the constituency through having lived in it.
Other jobs? Tough. Same rule applies.
Morons should not be allowed to be parachuted into safe seats. And MPs need to understand their communities.
They shouldn't be allowed to stand unless they've lived in the constituency for a decent period of time.
They could use similar criteria to how they assess where you pay Council Tax or similar. But they should know the constituency through having lived in it.
Other jobs? Tough. Same rule applies.
Morons should not be allowed to be parachuted into safe seats. And MPs need to understand their communities.
swisstoni said:
I don’t see it as a massive issue. Parties all have a few golden boys and girls who they see as current or future high flyers.
They will likely be airdropped into the safest constituencies wherever they actually live.
And you don't see any issues at all with the way our government works or our politicians operate....They will likely be airdropped into the safest constituencies wherever they actually live.
St Ives constituency here in Cornwall has a Labour candidate that has been put here just for a practise election, they know they wont win, nor get many votes so its just a bit of a practical lesson in what to do.
If you look on the Labour website there is no picture or any bio at all.
If you look on the Labour website there is no picture or any bio at all.
Murph7355 said:
I'd go harder.
They shouldn't be allowed to stand unless they've lived in the constituency for a decent period of time.
They could use similar criteria to how they assess where you pay Council Tax or similar. But they should know the constituency through having lived in it.
Other jobs? Tough. Same rule applies.
Morons should not be allowed to be parachuted into safe seats. And MPs need to understand their communities.
That all sounds very plausible but what exactly is it that makes you look at the calibre of the current MPs and think that you want to further limit the available talent pool? It's entirely possible to put the work in to go out and learn about a community wherever you come from, and represent them well. Plus, just because you live there does not mean you don't need to do that work but I imagine it makes plenty of them think they don't need to. They shouldn't be allowed to stand unless they've lived in the constituency for a decent period of time.
They could use similar criteria to how they assess where you pay Council Tax or similar. But they should know the constituency through having lived in it.
Other jobs? Tough. Same rule applies.
Morons should not be allowed to be parachuted into safe seats. And MPs need to understand their communities.
Rusty Old-Banger said:
Yep. And notice how often it's Tory. My previous Tory MP/candidate lived over 100 miles away, it was found out.
The current Tory prospect is a very well-known ex-Olympian. No way in a million years he lives anywhere near. I should have asked him directly when he knocked on my door a week ago.
I know where the local Labour candidate lives, and I see/work with the Lib-Dem candidate so often he's almost a friend, I even know what his cat is called.
They all do it - Labour certainly as much as the Tories. I live in the Tatton constituency in Cheshire. The Labour candidate is Ryan Jude who is currently a cabinet member for Westminster city council and has never lived in the constituency. It hasn't stopped him claiming he is "Tatton's most local MP ever." Why do they casually lie like this? The current Tory prospect is a very well-known ex-Olympian. No way in a million years he lives anywhere near. I should have asked him directly when he knocked on my door a week ago.
I know where the local Labour candidate lives, and I see/work with the Lib-Dem candidate so often he's almost a friend, I even know what his cat is called.
Edited for spelling!
Edited by dbdb on Monday 1st July 14:50
dbdb said:
They all do it - Labour certainly as much as the Tories. I live in the Tatton constituency in Cheshire. The Labour candidate is Ryan Jude who is currently a cabinet member for Westminster city council and has never lived in the constituency. It hasn't stopped him claiming he is "Tatton's most local MP ever." Why do they casually lie like this?
Edited for spelling!
Another Tatton resident here. So it's either the remote labour chap or the local Minister for common sense. Tough choice....Edited for spelling!
Edited by dbdb on Monday 1st July 14:50
MesoForm said:
One of our candidates for here in rural Norfolk is a councillor from Lambeth who has local grandparents 
I can't see how an MP can really understand their constituents concerns unless they live locally and have to use the local services.
Hmm. I can't see how an MP can really understand their constituents concerns unless they live locally and have to use the local services.
JRM lives fairly locally to me. I don't think he shares many of my concerns. He also won't be my MP after Thursday!! ( due to boundary changes).
I don't think he'll get in in the new seat!
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