Becoming a mp and perks of the job

[DnAuK]

You must have every aspect of your life pried into by the media.

You must have everything you've ever said or done, no matter how young or reformed you are, dragged up at every opportunity.

You must say goodbye to your personal privacy.

You must be publicly pilloried and hated by people who have no idea.

You must have VERY thick skin.

 

---------- Post added 10-11-2015 at 22:06 ----------

 

Being ugly helps too.

 

When are you running, Ron?

[max]

These are the criteria

 

I'm really impressed, how on earth did you find that out? Is it something you could teach other forum members?

[alchemist]

You need to get more votes than all of your opponents in an election.

 

And have plenty of money if you are not part of the three major parties, dont believe all that tosh about the average man being able to be elected

 

---------- Post added 11-11-2015 at 13:41 ----------

 

Just as running a large company requires many skills, so too does running the country. Nothing on paper is needed.

 

To be fair out of the 650 loafers that are voted in only about 20 actually need any skills other than being able to waffle and lie. The actual running of the country is done by the civil servants. Just as the running of a large company relies on numerous peolpe far further down the food chain

 

---------- Post added 11-11-2015 at 13:48 ----------

 

According to the Spectator back on early 2014 it costs at least 35k to get elected although some other reports from other sources puts it as high as 45k. And that gives no gaurentee of winning, to do that you must stand as one of the major party candiadtes in a sure fire seat

Edited November 11, 2015 by alchemist

[Anna B]

whats the criteria for becoming an mp ? as an independent would you still get in ?

 

Only 12 independent candidates have been voted into Parliament since the 1950s so your chances are slim to say the least...

[GLASGOWOODS]

Just as running a large company requires many skills, so too does running the country. Nothing on paper is needed.

 

Oh right. So would you say that Mhairi Black, (age 20)SNP MP for Paisley/Renfrewshire South has the experience and skills to run a large company?

[Anna B]

These are the criteria

 

Fulfilling the criteria is easy. Getting elected is the sticky bit...

 

As an independent forget it. You've virtually no chance unless you have an extremely high public profile and/or lots of money.

 

Stand for a party, and you have to get past a rigorous selection process onto a selection list. In other words your face has to fit, you have to suck up to the right people, and you have to agree to tow the party line.

Edited November 11, 2015 by Anna B

[ricgem2002]

Fulfilling the criteria is easy. Getting elected is the sticky bit...

 

As an independent forget it. You've virtually no chance unless you have an extremely high public profile and/or lots of money.

 

Stand for a party, and you have to get past a rigorous selection process onto a selection list. In other words your face has to fit, you have to suck up to the right people, and you have to agree to tow the party line.

if that's the case why arnt more people kicking off about how unfair it is for the man in the street to get elected? whats the rigorous selection process to get on a selection list entail ?

[Anna B]

if that's the case why arnt more people kicking off about how unfair it is for the man in the street to get elected? whats the rigorous selection process to get on a selection list entail ?

 

They are. There are many people trying to raise awareness, and it was a hot topic at the last two elections in particular. But unfortunately not enough people know or care as they prefer to believe what they are being told in the media. that they live in a democracy. It's not really true.

 

To get on the selection list I suppose it's like any other job application, your past record, and what you can bring to the job. They aren't going to want a maverick who doesn't represent the party's views and aims. Often possible leaders are selected as potential candidates years ahead of time so they can be moulded and coached into a potential PM. Cameron is said to have been selected while still at University, hence the political career.

 

Jeremy Corbyn got to be leader of the Labour party by a fluke. Thanks to his insistance that he be included for the sake of balance and Ed Milliband's new legistation that the party members could vote for the leader, thousands and thousands of ordinary people joined the Labour party for £3.00 simply so they could vote for Corbyn. You can see how upset the old guard were to have this 'people's choice' foisted upon them rather than their own choice, by the way he has been reviled in the media and his continuing bad press.

Edited November 11, 2015 by Anna B

[RickyM]

You wouldn't win as most voters like a candidate to belong to a party. Why not join a party that closely represents your beliefs?

 

There has been some exceptions to this rule of course - but very few.

[El Cid]

Oh right. So would you say that Mhairi Black, (age 20)SNP MP for Paisley/Renfrewshire South has the experience and skills to run a large company?

 

I would not vote for someone so young, but she has skills that got her elected.

Some MPs do not relate to the young or the poor, some experience of ordinary people is a must.