Prospective candidates must have a good connection with the constituency or ward they wish to represent. This enforces the connection between representatives and their constituents and helps to disqualify candidates that are "flown in" by the party ahead of local choices.
We will end the practice of the speaker's constituents being denied representation and a lack of choice in elections. The positions of speaker and deputy speaker will not be filled by MPs, they will be jobs advertised, filled and salaried just like any other.
Constituency offices of MPs, which quite rightly are publicly funded, should be solely for the use of casework officers, diary assistants etc to assist the MP in dealing with constituency issues. They should not be used for campaigning purposes or for locating agents, campaign managers, or other party officials, and thereby giving a publicly funded electoral advantage to incumbents over challengers.
@davidmiller - about 7 years ago
they will be jobs advertised, filled and salaried just like any other. according to received wisdom, most jobs are not advertised.
Even if that's not true, wouldn't this still be a weirdly passive aggressive tone to take in a manifesto? (Spoken with expertise in taking unexpectedly and out of context adversarial/passive aggressive/snarky tones ;))
@philipjohn - about 7 years ago
It probably is passive aggressive but that's because I'm angry ;) Personally, I'm not too bothered about that but I'm also open to changing the wording if you think it really needs it?
I'd change
We will end the practice of the speaker's constituents being denied representation and a lack of choice in elections. The positions of speaker and deputy speaker will not be filled by MPs, they will be jobs advertised, filled and salaried just like any other.
to
We will end the practice of the speaker's constituents being denied representation and a lack of choice in elections. The positions of speaker and deputy speaker will not be filled by MPs, they will be jobs advertised, filled and salaried just like any other, as the alternative would be a continuous exception in the premise of this country's democracy.
Just to make it sound less angry and most justifiable, but I'm not stopping it.
Vote: ✅
The OpenPolitics Manifesto
@philipjohn - about 7 years ago
Puts an end to the democratic deficit whereby constituents whose MP is the speaker are not adequately served and do not have the usual choice during elections.