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Lincoln candidate selected

March 24, 2012 3:58 pm

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Today Lincoln CLP have selected their candidate for the next general election. Lucy Rigby was selected by local party members. Congratulations to Lucy and commiserations to the other candidates. Lucy’s biography is below:

Lucy Rigby – An Islington Councillor, Rigby was elected in 2010 as part of a landslide council win and is currently the council’s Audit Committee chair. She also has local connections having campaigned in Lincoln when Labour took the City Council back in 2011. A lawyer by profession, she has an impressive CV – a competition lawyer by training with experience in private practice and for the Office of Fair Trading, as well as having worked internationally both in the Hague and practising EU competition law in Brussels.

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  • ThePurpleBooker

    Brilliant!

  • http://twitter.com/gonzozzz dave stone

    Another London lawyer. Time to throw the towel in. I’m off.

    • treborc

       Not a shock is it, if she was not picked the parachute would have been deployed middle class party looking for middle class MP’s

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001102865655 John Ruddy

        I dont think you understand the “parachute” do you? Its used when a seat hasnt been selected and an election has been called. The NEC can then impose a candidate….

        • Luke Akehurst

          Which has only happened twice in the last 20 years – Alan Johnson in 97 and Chris Leslie in 2010. Every other Labour candidate selected in last 4 GEs had to win a  vote of local members vs at least one opponent.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001102865655 John Ruddy

            I think there are questions as to how Jack Dromey got selected too, though. Wasnt Birmingham Erdington supposed to be AWS?

          • AlanGiles

            The names Jonathan Reynolds and Tristram Hunt also come to mind. There was also the failed bid to lumber Erith and Thamesmead with Georgia Gould in 2010.

          • Luke Akehurst

            Jonny Reynolds was a local councillor in Stalybridge and grew up there. He beat a range of other strong Manchester candidates. The opposite of “parachuting”.

          • AlanGiles

            As I recall it Reynolds was strongly promoted by Purnell, and this caused some bad feeling locally. Perhaps that says more about Purnell than about Reynolds?

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrea-Parma/578831001 Andrea Parma

            IIRC Reynolds wasn’t included in the first shortlist drawn up by the NEC panel.  After an alleged Purnell/Mandelson’s complaint leading Downing Street to intervene (DS was afraid the media would have reported the shorlist was arrenged to give Unite’s Peter Wheeler an easy ride. It was in the period the Tories, the Sun and the Times were screaming about Unite controlling Labour and imposing dangerous left wing candidates), he was added to the final shortlist.  Then Barbara Roche and another candidate withdrew from the race leaving Reynolds, former NEC member Wheeler (from Salford) and a local GP.
            Final result: Reynolds 120 votes, Kailash Chand 53, Wheeler 42

          • AlanGiles

            Thanks for the information and link, Andrea.

            Mandy also intervened in the case of Tritram Hunt as well.

          • http://twitter.com/Tim_Mullen Tim Mullen

            No he didn’t – he wan’t even in the damn country at the time – I do wish you paranoid lunatics would get your facts right!  The only complaint was that no local members were included on the shortlist, but given the calibre of potential candidates (all our best councillors had previously been selected elsewhere) I honestly cannot think of one local Labour Party member who deserved to make the shortlist (unless you count one Councillor who had less than two years Party membership, and only came to Stoke through work).

          • AlanGiles

            You must give me the name of the charm school you attended Mr Mullen (“paranoid lunatics”)

            As you don’t believe in courtesy, may I say if I am a “lunatic” then you are an idiot, because in these days of global communications you don’t have to be in the country to arrange things.

            Let me take you back to April 2010:

            http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1263222/Labour-revolt-Peter-Mandelsons-pal-Tristram-Hunt-gets-safe-seat.html

            And do have a lovely evening and learn some manners :-)

          • AlanGiles

            Digging deeper I am not so sure his Lordshipwas out of the country at the time:

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZDad6h2xDg

          • Politique

            Hello Luke,

            Lets look at the real picture developing here

            Ed Miliband Parachuted
            Rachel Reeves Parachuted
            David Miliband  Parachuted
            Hilary Benn Parachuted
            Stephen Twigg Parachuted
            Chukka Ummuna Parachuted
            Alan Johnson  Parachuted
            Caroline Flint Parachuted
            Jack Dromey Parachuted

            I could go on and on and on

            When will you be parachuted Luke?

          • Luke Akehurst

            This list is just nonsense.

            Rachel lived in Leeds  (she worked for HBOS in W Yorks) and won a contested selection.
            Chuka lived and grew up in Streatham and won a v diff selection vs local council leader.
            Stephen Twigg deselected a sitting MP years before the general election.
            Ed Miliband beat Michael Dugher – hardly a walkover.
            David Miliband won a contested selection.

            Parachuting refers to imposing a candidate at the last minute, this only happened in the case of Alan Johnson.

            It could be used to describe someone facing weak opposition in a shortlist but that wasn’t the case in those listed above.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrea-Parma/578831001 Andrea Parma

            The Leeds West shortlist was Reeves, Alison Lowe (a local Cllr), Jo Coles (who worked for Yvette Cooper) and Emma Hoddinott.IIRC Hoddinott got less than 10 votes, Coles was third and Reeves won the final round over Lowe 96 votes to 88 (Reeves’ lead on first preferences was just 3 votes)Umunna defeated Lambeth Council Leader Steve Reed 175 to 162 in the final round in Streatham. Reed led on first prefences.Twigg won Liverpool West Derby beating local councillor Roz Gladden 77 votes to 58. The sitting MP finished third

            The shortlist in Doncaster North was: Ed Miliband, Dugher, Sandra Holland (someone working for Flint. I think she’s now the council leader), Nik Dukin (now MP for Scunthorpe), Aidan
            Rave (former Doncaster Deputy Mayor) and Elizabeth
            Donnelly
            I can’t recall details of when David Miliband was selected in South Shields

          • Politique

            Andrea,
             You provide very interesting statistics, some of which are outdated. Its Nik Dakin by the way.

            Thank you for pointing out that Rachel Reeves was also selected against 3  local candidates.

            You fail to also include Chukka Ummuna’s  relationship with Compass. An organisation that has influenced Ed Miliband’s policy and and thinking.  Although he will never admit it. A rather small thinktank, that boasts to have 50, 000 members but in reality it has about 5,000 members (most of which are not labour party members but atheists and humanists). Not much Christian Socialism going on there.

            One reason perhaps to suggest that Ed Miliband (Atheists) will never get elected as he as already alienated the other 75 -90% of the population that are Christian.

            The British people will never accept a Prime Minister that is not of Christian Values. For that reason, Ed will fail.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I mean you seem to be saying that Labour has got to be religious. We have secular politics in this country. I say this as a Christian socialist but keep religion out of it. Ed Miliband will not fail, because he doesn’t have Jesus in his life – if he fails it will be because he hasn’t got the right style of leadership.

          • Politique

            Tony Blair was sucessfull because he had Jesus in his life but failed to tell anybody. Yes I agree he will also fail because he cannot connect to the British People because of his leadership.

          • Bill Lockhart

            Er..yeah..sure.. *edges towards door*

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I mean that is a load of rubbish. Ed Miliband is winning, I mean I am sorry but I have just read some of the biggest nonsense from any Labour member. I mean grow up!
            Iain Duncan Smith has God in his life – you cannot see it in his welfare reforms, though – but he was unsuccessful. Clement Atlee was an atheist and he was very successful.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrea-Parma/578831001 Andrea Parma

              “You provide very interesting statistics, some of which are outdated.”

            all of them are outdated. :-)   They already happened!

          • Winston_from_the_Ministry

            Outdated means obsolete.

            Not “happened at a previous date”.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

            The British people, I would say, think religion and politics should be kept separate

          • Stuart

            This has to be the biggest load of cobblers I have heard in a long time.  You believe in something.  Fine.  However, you assume that your belief system is shared by everybody else.  Not fine.  And you try to impose it on everybody else.  See where I’m going.  If you choose to believe that dinosaurs didn’t exist, great – knock yourself out. God loves a crazy right?

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Michael Dugher tried to contest Doncaster North.
            I would like to see Steve Reed in Parliament at some point.

          • Politique

            Dear Luke,

            Do not try to justify the parachute argument with me. You will lose the argument. It would appear that you are promoting the interests of those MPs that are associated or rather give regular attendance, in the main, at Progress weekends and progress lectures.

            Correct me if I am wrong there is literature doing its rounds to CLPs( which coincidently I have not set eyes on yet) on concerns over Progress right wing doctrines having influence over Labour Policy. I really think you are not in a position to lecture or dictate to me or  real labour party members  out there on the lessons of parachuting.

            Parachuting in the sense I am imparting is the NEC (the Organisational committee) which I assume you may or may not be part of, choose a candidate that they prefer. I would suppose Jack Dromey was chosen because he was not related to Harriet Harman and was not the treasurer of the Labour Party

          • Politique

            Sorry one other Luke Nik Dakin was second not Michael Dugher when Edward Miliband was selected….and that was after a visit by Gordon Brown to Doncaster giving a speech to Labour members, prior to his hustings. 

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Fact is Politique – Luke is right and you are absolutely wrong. They had the support of the local parties, I mean do you want the Labour Party to turn into some dictatorship. Or perhaps you do. I suspect you want it to be a dictatorship led by Len McCluskey or someone equally as foolish. I mean grow up!

          • Politique

            Thank you for that Purple booker. I take it from your title you support Blairite policy and Progress. The Fact is Purple Booker both you and Luke are wrong.

            We have Purple Labour. New Labour, Red Labour, Blue Labour. Blair was right there is plenty of Diversity and Choice but I dont agree on the excellence.

            Yes I know purple booker you haven’t got the foggiest what I talking about.

            This is symptomatic of the modern day Labour Party Member. Or is it?

            Labour was brought up on trade unionism since the 1900s. Many MPs were good enough to be chosen by their local parties, from grass root workers. This would of course include trade union members. They have move away from this and are now championing inexperienced, oxbridge educated, lawyers, barristers, who have no understanding of life never mind community, with parachutes.

            Purple bookergive me some solid evidence  to your rhetoric

          • ThePurpleBooker

            Come off it, Progress isn’t a solidly Blairite organization since there a Brownites there.
            I am pro-trade union, you are right it is part of our political heritage. But I am dismayed at the fact, of which you know full well, that Len McCluskey is trying to use union votes in CLP meetings to push for his own ideological agenda rather than the agenda of the Labour Party, and the local CLP. Your anti-Oxbridge, and anti-lawyer comments do not do any justice to your comments.
            Purple Labour, Blue Labour, Old Labour, New Labour, Black Labour, Red Labour - I mean all of these ‘coloured factions’ are on the same boat some of which believe the same thing – I truly see myself as a bit of everything but primarily Purple/Blue/Black Labour.

          • Politique

            Purple Booker I would write back  to you but my writing is becoming smaller and insignificant

          • AlanGiles

            ”
             I truly see myself as a bit of everything but primarily Purple/Blue/Black Labour.”

            Jesus Christ!. You would think it was flavours of Lucozade.

            What’s wrong with plain LABOUR? – doesn’t sound trendy enough for you?

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=36910622 Edward Carlsson Browne

            Parachuting in the sense you ‘impart’ is not actually parachuting. Luke pointed that out and therefore I’d suggest that you hold off on arrogantly claiming you’ll automatically win the argument until you have an argument that actually stands up.

            Especially since except in by-elections and last-minute selections the NEC does not choose the shortlist. They get to decide whether or not to impose an AWS, but they don’t shortlist.

            Certainly AWS has been used (or not used) as a tool for favouring and disfavouring certain candidates in some selections, and certainly efforts have been made by the party elite to give some candidates an easy route into parliament.

            But as has been demonstrated, most of your claims are nonsense. People who have had to beat other current MPs or council leaders won because they convinced the CLP they’d be the best candidate. That’s not a fix, that’s being better organised.

            If you have a problem with candidates like that being selected, stop moaning and start organising to get the sort of candidate you want selected.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

            Its too easy just to shout ‘parachuted’. Stephen Twigg was one of many. many candidates who came forward for Liverpool West Derby. The previous MP had been – well, dreadful is an understatement – and I think the local party fancied someone who could put the area on the map. He’s proved to be an outstanding local MP, and I’m well to his Left.

            I do think there is an issue about well resourced and supported outsiders and I can think of another MP locally who certainly did have those advantages. 

    • http://twitter.com/robertsjonathan Jonathan Roberts

       It’s the democratic process Dave. The local party had chance to consider the options, scrutinise their applications and listen to their views.  They made a decision accordingly, so good luck to her and them.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001102865655 John Ruddy

        They maybe, but one does have to wonder why she was on the shortlist at all? There were several good local candidates to choose from.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

          Fair point, but sometimes local parties like the idea of a high flyer. But I think we have quite enough London lawyers in parliament. This does show the limitations of the AWS system – we seem to get even more clones in AWS seats than in open contests

          • Chilbaldi

             Its a common misconception that Parliament is full of lawyers. It isn’t – there are far more teachers for one.

            People may moan about local candidates etc, but the fact is that there were local candidates. Lucy Rigby beat them fair and square.

            Anyone have any idea what Lucy’s politics are?

            Ps good luck Lucy.

          • David

            Yeah, agreed Chilibaldi – I was at the hustings – Lucy spoke really well – she has local roots, and yes, she’s a lawyer, but she is passionate, is a co-op party member too, and I am fully behind her in the battle to make Lincoln Labour again in Westminster!

          • Quiet_Sceptic

            So we have a disproportionately large number of MPs who were lawyers but it doesn’t matter because the number of former teachers is even more disproportionate.

            I love the logic.

          • Chilbaldi

            Perhaps there is a reason why so many are lawyers? Perhaps they are ideally suited to make laws, given that they know the law inside and out themselves?

            Is this a bad thing?

          • AlanGiles

            “they know the law inside and out themselves?”

            It certainly helps them to maximise their expenses without ending up in the dock – where many of them should have been in 2009

          • Quiet_Sceptic

            No.

            To make good laws or policy on the NHS doesn’t take a lawyer, it takes someone who knows how the NHS works, its faults, its inefficiencies, someone like a health care professional who has brings some knowledge and experience.

            To solve the housing crisis doesn’t need a lawyer, it needs someone with insight into the housing market, the social housing sector, of demographics and population trends.

            A decent energy policy that delivers more than hot air takes politicians with an understanding of the economics and engineering issues of the energy sector – perhaps scientists or engineers.

            We need elected representatives drawn from across society and from a wider professional background.

          • Chilbaldi

             so a lawyer who practices in the public sector/NHS issues wouldn’t have something to offer?

            ditto one who does local authority/housing/homelessness work?

            ditto environmental law, inernational environmental treaties, planning law?

            You see, lawyers come from a wealth of different practice areas. They don’t all come from upper middle class backgrounds and spend every evening getting sloshed in Lincoln’s Inn.

          • jaime taurosangastre candelas

            I won’t comment on this particular choice as it is an internal party matter and I know nothing of the candidates anyway, but what you say makes sense.  There were some fascinating studies of the affirmative action movement in the US in the 1970s.  In these,  social scientists proved beyond doubt that an unintended consequence of the programme was to select / promote already middle class black people at the expense of poor blacks whom the programmes were really aimed at.  On the face of it, it may be that the AWS scheme is following along the same path.

            I’m sure that in your line of work you are probably aware of these or at least have access to specialist libraries if you are interested.  I certainly don’t have the internet links as it was a dozen or more years ago that I read of the studies.  They were also referenced in that interesting book “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell.

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=36910622 Edward Carlsson Browne

           Presumably because the local shortlisting panel felt she was strong enough to justify a place on the list. Whether that’s due to local connections or her particular skill-set is an open question (I think we can rule out her being a potential high-flyer, because you don’t get many cabinet members from seats as marginal as Lincoln) but it was evidently felt that she merited a place.

          And once on the list, she obviously convinced members she was the best person for the job. We can complain about the number of lawyers in the PLP all we like (and the process may favour them) but their basic advantage is that they’re good at making convincing arguments. This isn’t an easy thing to make rules against.

    • Chilbaldi

       Clem Attlee – London lawyer. Privately educated too. He wasn’t too bad was he?

      • Ian Stewart

        He was excellent! However he stood in a constituency where he had not only lived, but had cut his political teeth in before 1914 in the ILP. Yes, an Oxford Lawyer, yet one who chose to represent East End dockers, and never wavered. I believe that he only moved out of the constituency after marrying, with the blessing of his CLP. And he had the backing of the fastest milkman in the west – Ernie Bevin.

        I think on present evidence, we can say that The Major was head and shoulders above young Tristram…

        http://clemthegem.wordpress.com

  • loose windscreen

    This about Lincoln becoming Labour again and having an MP that will send the current Tory muppet on his way at the next election. Good choice, right credentials to do the job!!!

    • treborc

      I suspect the Muppet is smiling.

      • loose windscreen

        Sorry, but I dont think he is. 

    • David

      Couldn’t have put it any better myself! Well said!!  :)

  • http://twitter.com/eljmayes Edward Mayes

    Interesting to note that Lincoln under the new boundaries has a notional Tory majority of 5k. It would have been a much easier sell for Labour to select a local candidate in my opinion.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrea-Parma/578831001 Andrea Parma

      The 2 estimations I have seen about the proposed new Lincoln were 2,230 (4.5%) majority by Antony Wells of Ukpollingreport and 1,735 (3.45%) by Martin Baxter of Electoral Calculus. A slightly increased majority compared to the current constituency but still one Labour needs to win to be back in government

    • ThePurpleBooker

      Well, firstly the boundary changes are unlikely to go through. Secondly, these are the first proposals – they always get changed. Thirdly, we should be taking seats with majorities of 5,000 or even 6,000 that is why we need a brilliant candidate like Lucy Rigby – who has actually got many connections to the area as well as brilliant CV, rather than some mediocre councillor or one of Len McClusky’s Militant servants.

      • Politique

        What connections has Lucy Rigby got in Lincoln Purple Booker. Why is she brilliant. Is she a member of PROGRESS. Please expand on her brilliant CV. Ed Miliband has a brilliant CV. Never had a real job but he has been a lecturer at Harvard.

  • DR

    Lucy will make a cracking candidate and MP!

  • Dr Sudaram Rai. London

    Congratulations Lucy. Well done. Good luck in the General election.

  • Dr Sudaram Rai. London

    Congratulations Lucy. Well done.

    Good luck in the General election. I will campaign for you for 2-3 days .

    • ThePurpleBooker

      Have you thought about being a candidate at the next election?

  • Brumanuensis

    An Islington councillor? Gods above and below us.

    I’m sorry. That’s unfair on Lucy Rigby, who’s obviously an highly talented individual who’d make a fine MP. But given how strong the other candidates were and their better local connexions, I feel a bit perplexed. There are too many lawyers in the PLP already*. 

    Nonetheless, as Jonathan Roberts has pointed out, it is important we respect the local party’s decision and I wish them and Lucy Rigby all the best.

    *I work in the legal profession

  • Jeremy_Preece

    So a local CPL has selected a local member who is currently a Labour councilor. From what I read below, she is a very capable candidate and has the abolity to speak really well and as such will probably be able to communicate with the sort of electorate in her area.
    This also seems to be a person who is not another of those PPE Oxbridge brigade, and someone who has qualifications and experince outside of politics.

    I expect that the local CLP selected Lucy as she seems to have the greatest chance of winning that particular seat.

    Congratualtions Lucy on your selection. I am pleased to see that there are many others lower down the blog who also want to congratualte you. I am not sure what the problem is of so many others on this page who want to get the knife out and have a go. We seem to have some real cases of inverted snolbbery here. Get a grip guys, we actually want Labour to win this next election; or at least some of us do.

    • David

      Absolutely!!! The members selected Lucy – she spoke with real passion and she actually visited members – met them face to face, which is a big thing for a lot of party members. The previous Labour MP did soooo much for Lincoln in terms of health, education, transport, early years – most of that has been swiftly undone by the tory mp, and I see it now as a battle to get a Labour MP elected who cares about Lincoln.

      • ThePurpleBooker

        I’m confident Labour will take back Lincoln. It’s a marginal seat that we probably will win. Anyway, out of interest how old is Lucy Rigby and what university did she go to because I’d really like to know about the demographic of our candidates.

  • Politique

    Dear Mark,

    I rest my case in relation to my contribution to your earlier article. This is no longer a party of the people it is a party of the priveleged. Their is something rather palpable happening in the party. 

    Mark you present in the main a balance and fair representation of the facts in terms of your articles to readers. This is commended.

    Reforming Labour is now in tatters. We both know that the power relations at the heart of every constituency is controlled by officers and not labour party members. Most members with CLP’s are steered and directed by the advice of their local officers.

    This continuation of parachuting candidates in to safe seats from London inner circle into northern is seriously damaging to the Labour Party. It is perhaps clear that many councillors and party officials forge very close relationships with their chosen MP to the point that they then may be rewarded a position as a caseworker, an officer manager, policy advisor, reasearcher, family association, internships. (Lets look at the private office of our leader Rachel Kinnock comes to mind). I will challenge and ask every member (this would also include (TORIES AND LIB DEMS) to look at the structure of their local CLP and then look at the offices of their MP.  

    A good researcher would observe things as they really are.
    This is what is wrong with the Labour Party. People, members, supporters need to stand up and take back the party.
     
    Candidates should not be chosen by how they speak (Elaborate Code and not restricted) but on what they already do locally in their own constituency. Ms Rigby by sheer location, experience and lack of local knowledge is no competition for Karen Lee. This is democracy by the few that will be implemented on the many to choose at the election. There is now a perfect case for local primaries. Let the people choose.

    Without being a fly on the wall (ED) Is this your future of a modern Labour Party.

    My message to Ed Miliband is quite simple you are now the : -

    PARTY OF THE PRIVELEGED and not the party of the people.

    Perhaps Councillor ……… from Lincoln who should really be responding as a member or party official and not councillor would like to respond.

    He could perhaps start by stating how this selection promotes Refounding Labour.

    More of the same Mr Miliband

    Lets start the debate

    • David

      So it is obvious that you are blinded by your own blinkered views to the realities of what actually happens – our hustings gave each member 5 minutes to speak, 10 for questions and then the members voted. It was very packed – many of the people that turned out were ordinary members who go to ward meetings, as they are not been selected for CLP meetings – to suggest that members are swayed easily by officers is so far from reality, as they rarely have the opportunity to meet them (as they are not GC delegates…). It is clear from your response that your views are centred on an attack regarding the leadership rather than what happens at hustings. You cannot criticise what you do not know.

      • Politique

        On the contrary my dear David, I am perfectly aware what happens at hustings. I know more than you think. 5 minutes to speak for a lifetime of representation. 10 minutes for questions that a majority of the  packed audience cannot engage in. yet the NEC are given more time to shortlist. I rest my case. 
        I will stop attacking the leadership when I receive an apology from the leadership.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

          I’m sure that the candidate is a very good one – but there is an issue about the number of southerners seeking safe seats further north, and the resources they appear to have in their support.

          • Politique

            Thank you Mike. There is a big issue here and it would appear to be exploited.

    • Bill Lockhart

      “priveleged. Their is”

      If you can’t spell English words, get your computer to help you.

      • Politique

        Bill, from experience when individuals attack you for your grammar mistakes it normally means you have lost the argument,

        Party of Privelege, Priviledge, Privilige…can you help me Bill

        • Bill Lockhart

          That’s a very frank admission.

    • Jeremy_Preece

      I joined the Labour Party only in November 2010. I really feel that one of my great advantages is that I see Labour in the same way as outsiders view it. I feel very strongly that we need to look at the electorate who actually decide whether or not to put Labour back into power, and check ourselves to see if we are communicating with the electorate and if we are clearly going out to offer the electorate something that is different from and better than the appalling Tory government.

      Sorry to sound as if I am picking on you in particular Politique, as I am not, but your comments here are typical of a very unhelpful stand of argument that crops up within Labour.

      I really want to say that there are a number of people who are long term Labour members who are really caught up in the internal affairs of the party to the extent that they seem to have lost the point that The Labour Party is seeking re-election.

      Quick reality check. The voters (the ones who decided whether to vote Labour or not) don’t give the proverbial toss about demographics of candidates, refounding Labour (which is a real exercise in navel gazing), doctrines of social class and so on. They want to see a candidate who they can relate to, that is visible, hardworking, seems to care for their area, and appears that they will do a good job if elected, and will represent them.

      The electorate does not care about the length of time that the candidate has served Labour, or the internal committees or pressure groups within the party that they are involved in. They certainly are not going to reject someone because they are middle class. They will however be attracted to someone who is capable and eloquent. Having a life and career in the real world, outside of politics, is also a plus.

      I am quite sure that these are the reasons why Lincoln CLP selected Lucy Rigby, (who from all accounts is a really strong and well rounded candidate) as they want the next election to deliver them a Labour MP.

      And for the record, I am amazed that every time I write about wanting Labour to
      actually win, on having clear winning policy and strong leadership etc. I am accused by at least one reply of being right wing, a closet LibDem, or a Blairite. This sort of mud slinging labelling is both juvenile and symptomatic of loosing an argument.

      I recognise this same ilk in the very negative gripes we see on this blog about Lucy Rigby. I wish Lucy Rigby well, and if I lived in Lincoln I would be out canvassing for her at the next election. I will however be canvassing in my own local area, but there
      again I care about Labour winning.

  • Joe

    This is a disgrace. There was several amazing working-class, community activist candidates, yet another lawyer was selected. Straight after the Bradford candidate was picked – another lawyer. It’s time for people to realise Labour isn’t a party for working people. I’m looking on from the side-lines as one of the growing numbers of working-class, ex-Labour, Green Party  members. But I was hopeful about Lincoln, for the left’s sake as a whole. This is a huge shame.

    • ThePurpleBooker

      Oh shut up, and go away. Stop spouting rubbish.
      By the way, Caroline Lucas is an absolute toff and so are many of their funders so shut up.

      • AlanGiles

        Joe wasn’t spouting rubbish: The Greens worked very hard to capture the Brighton seat, and it was done on a fraction of the budget the three main parties threw at it.

        What is an “absolute toff” in your book?

        I think you once described yourself as a “journalist”. Must be a tab olid jouirnalist when hyou conclude your argument with the words “so shut up”.

        Joe is as entitled to express a left-wing viewpoint on a Labour site as you are to keep on praising Progress – part of the broad church thing.

        • ThePurpleBooker

          Caroline Lucas is an absolute toff. She was born to a rich Tory family in Worcestershire, and she went off to a girl’s boarding school in Malvern.  Like Cameron and Osborne, she has had her life handed to her on a plate.
          Also, the Green Party’s donors include the likes of Ben Goldsmith who is a multi-millionaire, Eton bnaker who has been avoiding taxes. So I don’t think that party is a leftwing and working-class as it pretends to be?
          The Green Party might lose Brighton Pavillion. They are not serious without any realistic image for the way Britain wants to be like. Working class people care about real issues, not nonsentical obsessions and fantasy policy from hyprocrites and opportunists like Caroline Lucas.

          • AlanGiles

            Yes…if you say so.

            But remind me what the likes of Blair and Liam Byrne have in common: that’s right, they are both millionaires and in Blair’s case he went to Fettes, which is Scotland’s answer to Eton.

            So he isn’t an “absolute toff” then?

          • ThePurpleBooker

            I am glad that you finally accept the masssive flaws in the Green Party.
            Firstly, on Tony Blair he wasn’t really a massive toff. His father was from poverty and he worked hard all his life, then made money so he was able to afford to send Tony to Fettes.
            Secondly, Liam Byrne was very intelligent but from a normal family. He went to Harvard and made loads of money.
            Caroline Lucas and Ben Goldsmith had their lives handed to them on a plate, and I am surprised that you support people who are effectively part of the ‘Downtown Abbey ‘crew!

          • AlanGiles

            Where did I mention “flaws”?. You seem to see what you want to see.

            I would still be interested to know why it is OK to be Labour and loaded but not in the Greens

            I just feel you adjust your stance to suit yourself.

          • ThePurpleBooker

            No what I am saying is that you are a complete hypocrite. You have annoying kept on repeating how Labour has somehow betrayed the working class, and how the Greens are the pro-working class party.  However, what you fail to realise is that Caroline Lucas is from the same type of social class as George Osborne and David Cameron.  She was born into a very rich Tory family in Worcestershire, and she went to a girl’s boarding school in Malvern – unlike Jacqui Smith, who was brought up in the same area, whose parents were Labour councillors and went to the local comprehensive. Even though Lucas’ life was handed to her on a plate she didn’t even get into Oxford or Cambridge unlike hard-working Jacqui Smith.  Also, the Green Party have been funded by Ben Goldsmith who is a very rich banker descended from nobility, and went to Eton and is also a tax avoider. So your divisive Green Party tricks and your class war have got you know where.  I am not anti-rich, you are just a hypocrite and now you’ve just be proved utterly wrong! Also, Steve Hilton voted Green in 2001! :)  

          • AlanGiles

            ”
            unlike hard-working Jacqui Smith.”

            Yes. Life was hard for Jacqui. Living in her sisters box room while her husband entertained himself with DVDs of porn at home – at our expense, along with all the home improvements.
            My heart bleeds for poor Jacqui, who had to stand down because of being caughgt red-handed in the expenses scandal.

            As for “being proved utterly wrong!” (you sound just like a 12 year old schoolgirl), Green politics is about a philosophy of living, not about class. You can be well off and care about the impact man is having on the planet, and the implications for future generations, whether or not you originated in a manual workers home or a banker. Just as you can “care deeply” about “social justice” while instigating wars, opening a “faith foundation” and taking every penny you can get from lecture tours at £50,000 a time. Why is that OK in the Book’s book, but not being a rich green?

            How myopic and ridiculous you are

          • ThePurpleBooker

            So there is a big difference between the toffs: Goldsmith and Lucas, and the hard workers Blair and Byrne.

      • Politique

        Purple Booker, You have little in your possession in  terms of providing a constructive argument, which is shame as you would really excel if you avoided your childish tantrums.

    • ThePurpleBooker

      The Greens are going nowhere. Our party membership is steadily increasing, people turn to Labour – if you ask me we can do without Militant class warriors who caused Labour’s defeat in 1983!
      The Bradford West candidate was a working-class, community activist who was born and bred in the constituency, but because he was successful and worked hard he became a lawyer and trains the Lincoln’s Inn. Why are you against aspiration for working class people? What is wrong with people who work hard all their lives, to go places rather than to be condemned to the scrapheap which is where you want Labour to be!

      • Politique

        Neil Kinnock caused Labours defeat in 1983. Purple booker you have very little life experience and knowledge of reality. Joe you are spot on and you are in the majority

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001102865655 John Ruddy

          Except Neil wasnt leader in 1983…

        • ThePurpleBooker

          Rubbish.

        • ThePurpleBooker

          You are genuinely an idiot!

          • Politique

            The PurpleBooker, What you have to understand that by being an “idiot” as you express, people will reply to you….and Michael Foot

      • Brumanuensis

        No disagreement here about Imran Hussain, but your comment ‘What is wrong with people who work hard all their lives, to go places rather than to be condemned to the scrapheap’, is a little off. Aspiration shouldn’t just mean ‘social mobility’, but also a desire to improve oneself within one’s own circumstances. People who work as shop assistants, dustmen or builders, shouldn’t be written off for not being sufficiently ‘aspirational’.

        • AlanGiles

          And of course, going into politics should be a calling and a desire to help others, not just yourself. I am afraid far too many people – in all parties – go into politics for the wrong reasons. I can think of one Labour M.P. who is now 80, who bought himself a £2000 TV set on our money pleading that he only did so because he suffers from Obsessive Compulsion Disorder. He would be best advised to seek help for his condition and retire and enjoy the easy money he could get on the old age pension, while he copes with his problem.

          This is especially a problem for Labour – if they constantly go for Identikit candidates, the PPE at Oxford, then called to the bar or think tank/researcher then Parliament, we will have a group of people who know little about the lives their ordinary constituents live. Reading textbooks about inner-city deprivation is far different from actually witnessing it, or living it. What did Barbara Follett, wife   of a millionaire writer, for example, really know about being a housewife trying to make the housekeeping go as far as possible, and what does Liam Byrne, millionaire expenses scrounger,  know about trying to live on JSA?

          • Brumanuensis

            Shame really, I have a soft spot for Sir Gerald. Spot on about the identikit problem, but I suppose this is somewhat unavoidable. I think what we really need is more constituency work and possibly a minimum age for parliamentary candidates, like in the US where you have to be at least 30 to stand for the Senate and 35 to stand for President. Of course, this raises its own problems too, especially about young candidates and young persons’ issues being adequately represented in Parliament. It is frustrating that the ‘ideal’ age for a Prime Minister is now seen to be the early-forties – not too callow and yet not too decrepit. Just look at the disgraceful abuse Menzies Campbell got in relation to his age. The tragedy here is that if you favour the early forties as the best age for Prime Ministers, you get people who’ve barely had a career outside of politics, in order to progress through the ranks quickly enough to be eligible.

          • Chilbaldi

            I agree with this about age. I find it utterly bizarre that we have very young candidates for Parliament. We had one up in Yorkshire who was 21 at the last election didn’t we?

            What can a 21 year old realistically bring to politics? What life experience do they have? They haven’t even a fully developed mind age 21, they don’t even truly know themselves!

            Standing for Parliament at such a young age is blatant careerism and nothing more.

        • ThePurpleBooker

          And people from humble beginnings who have worked hard, strived hard all thier lives and played by the rules and have become lawyers, doctors, teachers and businessmen shouldn’t be written off as ‘class traitors’ which is what you and others are doing.

          • treborc

            Who really cares any more.

    • Chilbaldi

       Last time I checked, being working class wasn’t a pre-requisite for being a Labour candidate.

      Nor should it be. The Labour party represents everyone in its mission to create a fairer society. Not just working class, not just middle class. EVERYONE.

      If you think differently, I suggest you join the SWP.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

        I totally agree with that – but perhaps it is something of a concern when only a couple of the intake last time had been manual workers and had direct experience of the sort of jobs many of our voters do. 

        I do wonder whether the expectations of parliamentary candidates these days are effectively ruling out a whole load of people

        • Chilbaldi

           I agree to an extent. To be a Parliamentary candidate these days it seems that you need to be very active in London – going to conferences, going to casual discussion groups etc. You need to have a job which either puts you in direct contact with the people who make these decisions, or have the time to do this outside of work.

          I’m not sure how you fix that. Of course the main issue here is that while politics used to be seen as a kind of calling that you came to eventually, if circumstances pushed you in that direction, it is now seen as a career path straight out of university.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

            That’s exactly my concern. And that automatically rules out people from the provinces who have to earn a crust

        • jaime taurosangastre candelas

          Mike,

          how does that square with one of your recent posts that says that if the voters of Buckinghamshire or Surrey do not fear a Labour Government, then Labour is not doing the right thing?

          I’m certainly not looking to pick a fight on this, merely a discussion.  I’ve read numbers of your posts talking about not needing to take a large number of SE seats, and certainly you have the calculus on your side.  But I feel uneasy that you appear to support policies that are relentlessly in support of one side of the debate, appear to advocate divisive politics, and then (in the post above) agree totally with a view that Labour should represent everyone.  I agree with Chilbadi’s views, and am encouraged by your apparent conversion.

          It is a different thread, but in my mind this also links to the Ken Livingstone arguments, and about whether he can be a Mayor for the whole of London if he chooses to perform the “divide and rule” calculation on numbers of potential Muslim voters vs numbers of potential Jewish voters.  Actually, I don’t see it of any interest for the Mayor of London to have any view on the Israel / Palestine question.  He has no foreign policy brief.  He should be in favour of Londoners, whether called Mohammed, Jane*, Ezekiel, Shoshona or Pyotr.

          * That is the most English name I know – if it has roots in other countries it is not my intention.

          • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Homfray/510980099 Mike Homfray

            I think there’s a difference between Labour candidates being a good spread of society in terms of not being an identikit group of people, and Labour candidates being expected to reflect Labour ideas.

            I don’t agree with the Blairite dream of New Labour as ‘the political will of the British people’ – I think large populist catch all parties are problematic. Look at the Peronists in Argentina or Fianna Fail in Ireland for two good examples.

            I do think its best to have choice between ways forward for the country. Now, I was born in Bucks. I know that the attitudes of people there are very much, on the whole , in opposition to what Labour believe. Therefore, if we are advocating policies which appeal to people whose ideas and core beliefs are the opposite to ours, I would be concerned that we are not saying what we believe.

            There is a very clear difference between being able to deal with all problems which are brought to you as an MP , Mayor, councillor etc, and believing what you say ‘represents’ everyone. It doesn’t. Those who voted for you have some claim on your public expression, but in every area there will also be people who didn’t. The Tory MP’s who were my MP’s in Wycombe and Beaconsfield didn’t ‘represent’ what I believed, but did reflect what those who had voted for them expected. Fair enough.

            I also think that’s a particular problem with the Mayoral system, which I oppose – its far to personality driven, and of course Ken Livingstone will never represent Zionists, any more than Boris Johnson will represent the Occupy movement. It does appear that for some voters in London, views on the Middle East do make a difference.

            So, yes, Labour candidates should reflect the broad Labour constituency, all classes of Labour voter – but not all political viewpoints – unless the parties are different there is no point in a party system.

  • moviemaker

    I was at the hustings and Lucy was most definitely the strongest candidate.  Her whole ethos is standing up for equality and fighting for the poorest in society.  She has a fantastic intellect and can see the bigger picture rather than just focusing on one or two issues, which was the main problem with the other leading candidate.   

    • Jeremy_Preece

       Interesting to hear from someone who knows, because they were at the hustings.

      As I thought, the best candidate obviously won.

      Clearly Lucy Rigby “can see the bigger picture” far better than some of her critics on this page. Also, unlike her critics here, I expect she can argue objectively and clearly and without frothing at the mouth!

  • Andy Peacock

    no working class put them self forward to be candidates.

  • Raywynjones111

    yes this is a disgrace the party is full off legal eagle who have no understanding of poverty or what its like to get your hands dirty  

  • Davdgant

    I thought Ed Miliband would have put a stop to this sh*t. 

    • Politique

      More of the same

  • domtaylor

    ” Anyone have any idea what Lucy’s politics are?”

    An Islington lawyer, who has already had a taste of the EU gravy train. I think you can probably all guess what they are.

    • Brumanuensis

      Wa-hayyyy! Stereotypes ahoy me hearties!

  • Politique

    AWS shortlists are not right and are not fair. Fairness is the key Edward, as you suggest. You at least recognise my main argument, taking away ones interpretation of  ’favouring’, ‘parachuting’ ‘choosing’ candidates through shortlisting.
     
    Ed Miliband was provided an easy route into parliament by Gordon Brown in 2005. He replaced an ex miner.
     
    When the rules of the game are manipulated (positive discrimination) Edward it is very difficult to get the sort of candidate you want selected, particularly as the Organisational committee chooses on what criteria is required for selection. Which is? Harriet Harman’ s feminist view on selection is unacceptable. Merit is the key to success.
     
     I did not see an all women shortlist when Jack Dromey was parachuted into the Midlands.
     
    Why is that?

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