PPC Profile: Stephen Twigg

Full Name: Stephen Twigg

Age: 42

From: Enfield

PPC for: Liverpool West Derby http://twigg4westderby.com/

Selection Result: 77-58 (for Roz Gladden) on the final ballot

Member of the Labour Party since: 1982

CV:
I grew up in Enfield where I went to Southgate Comprehensive School. I studied Politics Philosophy & Economics at Balliol College, Oxford. I was President of the National Union of Students (1990-92), a local Labour councillor in Islington (1992-97) and General Secretary of the Fabian Society (1996-97). I was the MP for Enfield Southgate (1997-2005), Deputy to the Leader of the House of Commons (2001-2) and Minister for Schools (2002-5). I lost my seat at the 2005 General Election since when I have been Director of the Foreign Policy Centre and also work with the genocide prevention charity, the Aegis Trust. I was selected in West Derby in September 2007.

I was inspired to go into politics because:
I grew up in a very political home – my mum and dad were active members of the Communist Party and I remember going on anti-racist and other demonstrations as a child. At 15 (much to my mum’s horror) I joined the Labour Party. Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister and I saw rising unemployment, inner city riots and cuts in education – there had to be a better way and I felt (as I still do) that the Labour Party offered the best vehicle for progress in this country.

My main policy interests are:
Education and Democratic reform – including how to get more power and resources into local communities.

Three things I think should be in the next Labour manifesto are:
1 – Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. We know how disastrous and damaging unemployment is. If we secure a Fourth Term I would like to see a relentless focus on maximising employment via a mix of important public works in Housing (an area which we should have prioritised much earlier), Schools and Greening Public Buildings with support for skills at all ages from vocational education in schools to retraining opportunites later in life (see point 2) and a commitment to universal affordable childcare.

2 – An end to compulsory retirement ages – they are discriminatory and wasteful, both socially and economically.

3 – A renewal of local democracy – including shifting financial resources from central government to local councils.

I think people should vote for me because:
I combine previous experience with a recognition that politics has to change. I am committed to working hard. I am passsionately Labour but I realise that we live in a world in which most voters are not partisan – we need to win hearts and minds. I have always been a campaigner – now more than ever Labour needs to be out and about in our communities listening, engaging and learning from people.

AOB:
Becoming the first ever Labour MP in my traditionally True Blue home town was an immense privilege. I knew it wouldn’t last forever and, sure enough, in 2005 I lost. I am indebted to my good friends and comrades in the West Derby Labour Party for choosing me as their PPC almost 2 years ago. I know I have a long way to go to achieve “adopted Scouser” status but I have been encouraged by the warm response I have had from local residents in Liverpool. Labour won in 1997 by uniting our traditional supporters with voters from the centre ground. We did this with a focus on the issues that affect both groups – the economy, crime, schools and the NHS. We need to do this again – showing that our values are as relevant today as they ever were but also displaying the humility to acknowlege that we have made mistakes. If we get this right then I think we are in with a real chance of winning again.