How to choose an MP

A General Election is coming. Perhaps not as soon as most people would like it, but probably earlier than 2022 when there will have to be one.


The last General Election was a massive boost for the left who, perhaps for the first time ever, were undoubtedly the dominant force in the Party. However, the organisation and work that so many people put in was largely to elect MPs who have turned out to be hostile to the left project. We all know why.

Now we have the very real possibility of removing a number of MPs who have shown their colours as careerists, closet Tories and anti-working class. But exactly what do we need to do?

Beware of careerists

We have to be very careful not to rid ourselves of right-wing and centrist MPs merely to replace them with left-wing careerists whose main aim is the enlargement of their own ego.

It is important that in CLP’s where the left are not happy with their MP that trigger ballots are organised at Branch level for September. It is also important that these meetings are well attended. Which means people like me who rarely attend branch meetings need to turn up.

The Party rules state that the trigger ballot is a yes/ no ballot asking whether the branch wants a selection to take place. It is decided on a simple majority vote.

If you feel that a selection should take place then it is probably important to contact your CLP and Branch Secretary to ensure that the ballot is on the agenda. It is also important that the left organises to get people to branch meetings.

You need to attend a branch meeting (taking part in the
Photo op is optional)

Assuming the one-third branch rule is met, the sitting MP is automatically included in the selection process. The left will need to find a candidate that they can unite around. What will be completely unhelpful is that the left splinters and starts pitting candidates against each other. That will simply ensure that the
right win.

The sitting MP has a built-in advantage in that they will able to point to their parliamentary experience (in some cases including ministerial experience), all the satisfied constituents they
have helped (expect to hear letters of thanks),
the network of local businesses and charities they have good relations with, and of course their media appearances.

Let’s be clear on the whole we are not criticising MPs for what we might term “doing the job”. We
expect MP’s earning £79,468 per year to be present in their place of work, we expect them 
to be available to their constituents (though we might also note that they all have case-
workers who help manage this work), we expect them to meet with organisations in their
 constituency and, as the local face of the Party, we expect them to appear on local (and, sometimes national) media.

Some MPs work very hard (mainly at undermining
their own party) and then leave

However, we also expect MPs to support the party, it’s principles and its democratically arrived at decisions. We do not expect our own MPs who members trudge the streets supporting to undermine party policy on a whim, undermine the authority of the elected leader of the party (though they are, of course, free to disagree with specific policies and/or statements) or to collude with organisations and individuals whose sole 
motivation in life seems to be to prevent a 
Labour Government.

We all know the issues that have divided us and we all know how some MPs have used their media contacts to distract from the very real 
need for a General Election to pursue an agenda which is all about controlling the Labour Party rather than bringing about real change to a 
society in which 14.6 million people are living in poverty.


So we probably know who we don’t want representing us but how to decide who should be our representative. Here I can only offer a personal opinion. My ideal candidate would 
be representative of the constituency meaning that they have lived in the area for a number of years. They would have been active in local and national campaigns. I want to know that my MP has been seen at demos and on picket lines before they thought it might be good for their careers (and not just because their parents dragged them along, Jess). 

MPs need to support workers and be able
to reach out to ordinary people

They would, ideally, be known on the left of the party but not show their experience by the number of committees they have served on. Personally I am slightly suspicious of people whose CV boasts a progression of various roles and committees as it can indicate a commitment to a political career rather than a commitment to political ideals.


I am genuinely shocked when talking to other members when somebody says they want to be an MP, but seems to have no real opinions on anything. 

I would personally prefer candidates who can campaign genuinely on the manifesto and who are genuinely committed to change. 


As well as being politically committed any candidate of the left has to be able to reach out beyond their base. That means the ability to get on with other people, to listen (lots of us like to talk but are not so good at the listening thing) and to be able to find compromise and common ground where necessary. Although this sounds obvious it is surprising how many people rely on dogma and loud talking rather than analysis and thought. 

The centrist wing of the party are full of people who seemingly stand for nothing but self-enrichment but it would be naive to think the left is immune from such individuals and given the possibility of a well-paid career we need to be on our guard not to change Tweedle Dee for Tweedle Dum.

Sitting MPs cannot be expected to take being ousted lying down. We can expect them to trawl through social media for anything that can be used to undermine a rival. We should 
do the same. That is, we need to ensure that our candidates history cannot easily be used 
against them. We do not want to have to fend off accusations of racism, sexual harassment or bullying. Although the dirty tricks will be more likely with high profile sitting MPs we 
should probably assume that they will be used against any candidate who defeats a sitting 
MP.

Keep your eyes on the prize

This might be the most critical time for the UK left since Jeremy became leader. If, and it’s still a big if, Labour come to power it will be vital that the PLP is united behind the leader 
and the manifesto. It is vitally important that Labour MPs command the confidence of their 
CLPs, but equally important that they can inspire confidence in the many millions of Labour voters who are not party members.

Postscript: The Open Selection Campaign have brought to my attention that whilst the rules clearly devolve the trigger ballot process to CLP’s the NEC have given themselves the right to decide a timetable, and latest estimates are that it could take up to 9 months to complete the process. Such a timetable will almost certainly ensure that a snap election in late 2019 or early 2020 will be fought with many candidates who were not chosen by members and who will be hostile to the leadership and could well result in a Labour Government being defeated from within. Having said that, I am told by a left-wing member of the NEC that it is regional offices (in England) and the equivalent in Wales and Scotland who are overseeing the process. It is probably important that individual members keep up the pressure through branches and CLP’s if you really want your candidate to be democratically chosen