Skipping a generation: Labour’s PPCs

By Andrew Hobson

With 91 Labour MPs so far announcing their retirement at the forthcoming election, regional officials and CLP officers have been kept busy with selection contests. The recent round has thrown up a number of interesting, exciting, and at times surprising results. Perhaps the most striking feature of the selections is the number of under-30s being chosen to represent the Party in its most winnable seats. With so many young, talented and ambitious candidates being selected, it is hard to escape the impression that the party is looking to skip a generation as it seeks to refresh itself after thirteen years in power. Youth, it seems, is being seen as proxy for change, a clear signal to voters that the candidate is part of a ‘new breed’ – untainted by the failings of predecessors.

But these bright young things are far from political novices. As the profiles featured in the Insight guide to the Next Generation indicate, they already have an impressive array of political experience to call upon and it is clear that all have displayed the qualities required to make a significant impact on the future of British politics. Reviewing their respective CVs, these candidates certainly have drive, ambition and talent to spare.

The youngest, Bridget Phillipson in Houghton and Sunderland South, has been involved with her local party for many years, and has impressed many with her mature and professional approach to her candidacy. She will be 26 years old on election day, and a good bet for ‘Baby of the House’ in the next Parliament.

Anas Sarwar, 28, has been a prominent local figure since his teenage years and can call on experience gained as an NHS Dentist in Glasgow. He won The Sun’s “Best New Scottish Politician” award in 2009 and is set to be fast-tracked to the Labour front benches.

Emilie Oldknow, 29, and John Woodcock, 31, both have years of experience working for the Labour Party under their belts, and played key roles for the Party in the 2005 election. Indeed, Woodcock has spent the last five years at the centre of Government as a Special Adviser to John Hutton, before making the switch to become one of Gordon Brown’s advisors at Number 10.

Lisa Nandy, the hugely ambitious 30-year-old senior policy advisor at the Children’s Society and Shabana Mahmood, the 29-year-old barrister hoping to win Clare Short’s Birmingham Ladywood seat, are also sure to have a significant impact on the future direction of the Labour Party.

There are a number of candidates with experience to step straight into front bench duties. Kate Green, 49, has years of experience running charities and advising ministers and Chi Onuwarah the 44 year old senior engineer looking to win Newcastle Central has a wealth of experience as one of the UK’s leading telecoms experts.

All of these individuals have time on their side, and while it may take a couple of years before they begin to make themselves known on the national stage, these are future leaders of the Party who will be needed to take the fight to the Conservatives in years to come. If the polls are to be believed, then the Labour Party will have a reduced Parliamentary presence after the next elections. The good news for the party is that it is already sowing the seeds for its future regeneration.

This post forms part of the Insight Public Affairs guide to the Next Generation: Parliamentary Candidates to Watch. The booklet includes profiles of key Labour, Tory and Lib Dem PPCs, as well as lists of retiring MPs, information on boundary changes and statistical and demographic data on candidates. It is available for download free by clicking here.