Selecting Parliamentary Candidates

Question 1

What is the similar 3 stage process all 3 major parties go through when selecting parliamentary candidates?

Answer 1

1) there is a centrally vetted and approved list of prospective candidates
2) Local party draws up a shortlist from appointed candidates who have expressed interest
3) a vote for preferred candidate

Question 2

Where do those in the Conservative party go to vote for a preferred candidate?

Answer 2

at a meeting of constituency members

Question 3

How do people in a constituency vote for Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates?

Answer 3

through a constituency ballot

Question 4

What 2 ways have the Conservatives innovated candidate selection?

Answer 4

• A-lists

- Primary elections

Question 5

Where is an example of when primary election was used by the Conservative party ?

Answer 5

Totnes

Question 6

What did primary election involve in Totnes?

Answer 6

balloting tens of thousands of ordinary voters in the constituency

Question 7

What power do national parties have in selecting candidates?

Answer 7

they have the ultimate decision to deselect and impose candidates where they see fit

Question 8

Under Neil Kinnock, why did Labour deselect a number of sitting MP’s in 1986?

Answer 8

for being part of the banned Militant Tendency

Question 9

In what year under Neil Kinnock did Labour deselect a number of sitting MP’s including Dave Nellist and Terry Fields for being part of the banned Militant Tendency?

Answer 9

1986

Question 10

Which 2 people were deselected under Neil Kinnock for being apart of the banned Militant Tendency?

Answer 10

Dave Nellist

Terry Fields

Question 11

What is an example of when the Conservative party has imposed preferred candidates on constituencies?

Answer 11

MP Shaun Woodward in St.Helens

Question 12

Why was Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Scott (Kensington and Chelsea) deselected by his constituency party in December 1986?

Answer 12

following a series of alcohol-related incidents

Question 13

When was Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Scott (Kensington and Chelsea) deescalated by his constituency party following a series of alcohol related incidents?

Answer 13

December 1986

Question 14

Why did Michael Howard sack and then expel party deputy chair Howard Flight from the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2005 general election?

Answer 14

for publicly undermining the party manifesto comments on taxation

Question 15

Who did Michael Howard sack from the Conservative Party due to publicly undermining the party manifesto comments on taxation in the run up to the 2005 general election?

Answer 15

Howard Flight, the parties deputy chair