Candidate selection day

Today we select the person who will represent the local Labour Party at the next general election. In all probability they will become our next MP in Westminster and will have to represent the views of everyone in the constituency.
A few short months ago our constituency Labour Party (CLP) debated the benefits of all women shortlists (AWS). This is something the Labour Party remains committed to in order to address the male/female imbalance in Westminster. Our CLP, and I also subscribe to this view, overwhelmingly came out against AWS. The reason being that we felt that we just wanted the best candidate to represent us and that their gender (my daughter informs me there are now 31 recognised genders - but that's another story) should not be a deciding factor.  This view was seemingly the view of most of those who attended the meeting and of many (if not all) of our executive committee.

Now wind forward to where we are today.  We are on the cusp of deciding our next representative.  Many of us in the CLP have yet to meet or talk to the 4 (sorry - I think that should be 3!) candidates. So the hustings today (doors are locked at 2pm) is our chance to meet them all and make our choice.  Of course one of the candidates is well known to many people locally, though not to all. Paul Farmer may or may not be the best candidate to represent us, but I don't want to pre-empt what the others have to offer. Our executive committee have been actively supporting and promoting Paul Farmer. They clearly want him to be our candidate. Paul has run an impressive campaign on social media and produced a quality leaflet that was posted to all members - some have commented on the fact it was not printed in Cornwall, but I know from my own experience that local printers are not always able to do this kind of work at short notice. He has also had a team of people, apparently based across Cornwall telephoning members canvassing for their vote. This is something the other candidates have not been able to match, but does that make them less worthy of being your MP?

I remind you that our executive committee wanted 'the best person to represent the constituency', yet they have openly promoted one candidate above all others (as they have also done with the NEC elections). Are they making sure that the voice of the many is being heard? Are they making sure we have a democratic process where we can all make a fair decision? Are all grassroots members (that's all of us by the way) free to have their say and have their views respected.

Today we choose between 3 candidates - I understand that Fiona Dent has withdrawn, though there has been no official notification from the CLP exec or the selection committee. Two of them  (Sophie Johnson and Paul Raybould) have experience of standing for parliament before and all the candidates have a vast amount to offer, that is why your selection committee chose them – to make sure we get the best candidate.

I urge all CLP members to come along and meet the candidates, come with an open mind and make sure you have a say in choosing who will represent us all at the next election.

November 2017 Parliamentary Candidate selection for Camborne & Redruth

Today I was invited to be interviewed to be on the shortlist of candidates for Camborne, Redruth & Hayle. This is the statement I read to the selection committee.

I was proud to have been selected as the Labour candidate for the June election. I applied because it was something I had been considering for some time and although I accept that the opportunity had perhaps come a little earlier than I would have liked, I was pleased to have been able to throw myself at the opportunity. It was a huge learning curve for me and for those around me, even with the campaigning experience I already had and my experience of being a local town councillor.  I would again, like to place on record my thanks to those that worked for me and alongside me during that campaign. Without the support of the executive committee, the active CLP members and my family, we would not have come anywhere near as close as we did.  A result that was a surprise to many.  We had one of the largest swings to Labour in the country and now we must go on and win this seat from the Tories.

The campaign was exhausting, but at least I did not have to maintain my employment during that short campaign and I was able to put on hold my duties as a Town councillor to some extent.  Since the election I have found it difficult to get back into work mode and as some of you know, my work takes me away from Cornwall on a regular basis.  But having had to take 6 weeks unpaid leave for the election, for now at least my work has necessarily become my main focus.  As a town councillor I am on 6 committees, which is also a huge commitment. It is a commitment I enjoy and do not wish to relinquish, at least until I can be confident that I have achieved something for the town.

Most of you will know my political thoughts and where I stand on most issues. I stand on the left of the party. But I do not think that the Labour party should only be a party of the far left. It needs to maintain a broad range of views. It needs this in order to have a useful debate and to engage with the widest possible electorate.  It makes me feel uncomfortable when people with skills and experience within the party are overlooked for people with little or no experience just because they  belong to a certain faction.  Even if we do not agree with another person’s views, the debate can make us all stronger and we can all learn from the experiences of others, good or bad.  This attitude, of rejecting knowledge in favour of inexperience and  the unknown, is in my view short sighted and will only continue to lead to further division in the party. I urge you all to not let internal divisions be the reason we fail to elect a Labour MP here. Working together, respecting the views of others, embracing all those that want to help us, as well as activating new members is the way we will win.

I consider the role of candidate a full time job, something that requires a great deal of work for whoever is privileged to take it on. They will need a strong team behind them and they will need to work tirelessly until the next election. But there is no certainty over when the next election will be. It would be a great honour to be selected as the candidate, but for me it is not the right time. At this moment in time I do not feel that I would be able to dedicate myself to the role in the way that is required or that the people of Camborne, Redruth & Hayle deserve. Right now my job and my role as town councillor and my family deserve my full attention.  It is therefore, with regret that I now withdraw my application and wish the other applicants well in their campaigns.