In a not very widely reported blog on the Newsnight site yesterday, Michael Crick tells us that he has learnt that the Coalition pledge for state-funded primaries has been dropped.
Whether this means that the idea of primaries itself has been dropped remains to be seen… But I think the government would be wrong to do so.
I can see that taxpayer funds being spent on what should be party initiatives is probably not a good idea. I can see that party whips are worried about having MPs that are ‘too independent’ – whatever that means these days. I can see that removing the final say in candidate selection from party members is yet another reason not to bother joining a party. And yet. And yet.
What you want from a candidate is, among other things, the capacity to appeal to voters in the broadest sense. Having candidates come through what is effectively a mini by-election before they get selected can only prove to us – and them – that they are suitable material to go out and win votes when the big election comes.
I know several former PPCs who have said that the whole process of the campaign and the election have put them off ever standing again which is very disappointing both for them and for us. But wouldn’t it have been better to know that before they actually stood and had a chance of winning and representing us for five years?
Wouldn’t it be better to select as candidates people who can reach out? People who have been approved by lots of their constituents? People who do feel that they have the duty to do the right thing for their constituents rather than feeling beholden to a small group of party members?
I think so. And I’d really like to see us able to work out a way to reduce the cost of the primary (on which Douglas Carswell has some interesting ideas) and to ensure that they happen in every seat, at every election, so that every MP is reminded of every single one of their constituents.
Related posts:
RT @PlatformTen: New blog: Why open primaries should stay http://bit.ly/fgPvpA (with thanks to @DouglasCarswell !)
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Well done in highlighting the open primary stuff. I had completely missed it. It would be a shame if Government dropped what is a very important open Government idea. There still exists a democratic deficit that politicians need to deal with.
Morning Nick
Yes I think you’re right on the democratic deficit. Many people will say that this means AV is the answer… But – as I wrote a while ago – I’m not so sure. Still undecided on that one.
It would be a genuine shame if the open primary promise was dropped. Open primaries are an excellent way to end the stifling impact of safe seats on British politics and shift power to local people from a small clique. They would also have the added bonus of making sure that politicians are not complacent and mean that we have more independent minded MPs in Parliament. Open primaries should be a fundamental part of the new politics.