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I ask as my local MP is Luciana Berger. Parachuted in by Labour. One of their bright and future hopefuls. London born and bred. No connections with the area, couldn't even answer the most basic questions on the city after she was elected.
OK I don't like the way the system works, but nonetheless it seems to be the system we have. She can, and probably has, leaned much about the local constituency and it's people and issues.
However what's really bothering me is that she's now running to be the new metro Liverpool mayor. This just seems to be blatant careerism. She's up against current mayor Joe Anderson, a divisive figure at best. And also Walton MP Steve Rotherham. Someone who has lived and fought for the city all his life. Was right there at the forefront of the Hillsborough campaign with the families. It just can't be right that a blatant careerist could be selected over someone who has lived and breathed the city and its problems for decades.
Yes although I wish Chris Grayling was as far away as humanly possible. ****.
I think that to stand as an MP you should have lived in the constituency for 5 years.
"Local MP's for local people"
[img] http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSsmjIu9XZRHa5Qul3WePTKvp5i5HDfMWPk-plVVfRUnAADp2UnLopYyP4 [/img]
Isn't the crux of this the word "elected"?
Yes they should have some experience of living in Britain's ever increasing private rental ghettos. Although I suspect they would only be there to eye up future investments and areas they can intentionally run down, then raid with their front hander mates for regeneration/slum clearance/nice earner/displacement/gentrification schemes.
Our MSP is local. And a mountainbiker. We were pedalling round Cambusbarron earlier this week with him and one of his kids.
Yes I do think they should be local. I won't vote for a parachuted in party stooge..
No but shortlists should have local candidates. One issue I have is I have moved around, born in London grew up in Sussex, Hampshire and Australia. Lived in Surrey, worked in London also spent time in NY amd Singapore. So would I qualify as local anywhere ?
our MSP is local in that he's stayed here for last 10 or more years, and I imagine will remain so. Not from round here but adapted well enough. Also a biker...
And I guess it's a moot point if they are arriving - applying - from out of the county, but want to make their home here. Buy and risk not getting elected, or remain an outsider and make it less likely to be elected..?
2010 Labour candidate (from Central Belt) didn't even show up, just posted tweets about the "teuchters" he was hoping to represent..
Chippenham's MP actually moved to the town before she was elected, and is getting very involved with trying to promote local businesses, whereas several previous MP's lived quite some way away from the town, and were generally a bit remote from what was going on.
Becoming a resident at least shows investment in what goes on locally, especially as it's a largely rural area, not some metropolitan enclave.
My MP is actually really good. Hywel Williams Plaid Cymru. Born and bred in the region he covers.He cares passionately about his constituents. He kicked the DVLA's arse to get me back my driving licence after I was getting no joy and he shared this petition on Facebook. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/159996. He's alright.
We need more [url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Hatton ]Degsies[/url] for sure.
I'm totally opposed to parachuting in career politicians, but not sure how "local" I would want the rules to require my MP to be. They need to have a decent knowledge of the local area and issues, but not necessarily be "born and bred". Certainly a minimum period of residence is a good idea.
Not necessarily. A politicians job is to get stuff done and action the will of the local population, and represent the constituents in parliament. The fact someone is 'local' is not any qualification for their ability to be able to do any of those two things. I'd rather have a capable person who gets things done, they can take the steer from the local population as to what it is they want to do if they are good at their job and actually listen to the locals.
In fact it might be better they are not locals. If they are they are likely to be biased and prejudiced because they'd have a strong opinion about what they want of the local area and that might not be the same as the majority of the locals.
Anyway, defining someone as a local is like defining an immigrant as British. How long or how many generations do they have to have lived in the local area for them to qualify as being a local?
would I qualify as local anywhere ?
too many punchlines
I think a certain number of years to qualify is not a bad idea as i they do play an important role as constituent MPs and that does mean having local knowledge
Nope, just have to be effective
You could argue either way. You could have a 'local' MP who's crap & a 'not local' one who's good.
When I lived in Durham my local MP was https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Steinberg who was an excellent MP AFAIC, & he was very local. (I used to service his car so I may be biased)
My current MP is also reasonably local, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Jones_(British_politician) who AFAIC is a complete Nob.
But that's probably just me.
With wobbliscott
But once elected they need to live with their family in the constituency, if your kids are educated there, you primary house was there etc you are now linked to the success of the area intrinsically. Decisions now are more likely to reflect local concerns
It's an advantage to be resident in the constituency much more likely to truly understand the issues affecting the area then. I live in the largest constituency in UK. It's not possible for anyone to be truly local to the whole constituency.
You could argue either way. You could have a 'local' MP who's crap & a 'not local' one who's good.
When I lived in Durham my local MP was https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Steinberg who was an excellent MP AFAIC, & he was very local. (I used to service his car so I may be biased)
My current MP is also reasonably local, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Jones_(British_politician) who AFAIC is a complete Nob.
Edit... Tony B.liar was an MP in the Durham area but was actually from Edinburgh.
Say no more.