Candidate Selection

[Mossad]

Does anyone know anything about Candidate Selection for the three big parties? I'm doing a practice paper for AS Politics and I can't find any notes on this anywhere or in my text book.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Paul]

LABOUR

Local Constituency Association select a candidate for General Election, NEC approve (or not).

I'm not sure if the NEC have to approve selection for Local Authority elections...

(I asked my Labour MP why he never rebelled as surely if he was a good MP then the Constituency Association and the people would still return him - but apparently the NEC have to approve candidates)

[Matt. P]

Have you tried reading "The Political Animal" by Jeremy Paxman?

Generally, prospective canditates put their name foward to the constituencies local party. These are generally vetted by the party'shead office (and may have a interview in front of a panel, including an MP, before they can be shortlisted). This ensures they are at least genuine party members and perhaps more importantly are capable of performing the job of MP both adequately (as opposed to committing suicide under the pressure of MP for Renfrewshire) and "loyally". These canditates are intervied by the heads of the local party, and narrowed down to a shortlist of maybe 13.

The canditate is then selected by vote from all the local party members after attending a selection commitee, where they give a little speech and round of Q&A. Originally only a few, local party leaders would decide who was selected, but no they operate under a one person, one vote system.

In safe seats, over 200 applicants can apply.

[Gotlieb Alexander]

Tory

If you want to become a Tory MP you must firstly apply to the party's regional director, who will make an initial assessment as to whether your application has any merit. If they decide it does then you will have to be interviewed by a national board, and if they approve you as a candidate they will put you on the national Candidates' List.

Whenever a constituency becomes vacant (It doesn't have a prospective candidate to fight an election) they people on the list are invited to apply to that constituency's association who will chose their preferred candidate

[Mossad]

Thank you so much you three! Helped loads! :D