Thursday, August 03, 2006

The A List: How to Keep Candidates Motivated


Jonathan Sheppard (of Tory Radio fame) has written a good article on Comment is Free about the 'A' List HERE. These are his concluding paragraphs.

...There are going to be some very disgruntled candidates who feel they have somehow been rejected. For them, more work needs to be done centrally to offer some sort of alternative career path. The party can't afford to lose its most active members, and it would be short-sighted to let these people drift away.

Local associations have already been given the freedom to select "local candidates", and this is right. Sometimes local people know best who should represent them. A more positive step is the use of primaries, where the local community can take ownership of the selection process.

One failing of the A-list has been that not enough candidates have applied for seats the party needs to win if it is to form a government. Associations have been faced with only a handful of applicants, and that can't be a positive step. If, as I believe, localism is important, why not let any candidate on the approved list apply for any seats in the region where they live? That way associations can be presented with a range of candidates, with the winner knowing they achieved their position on one criteria only: merit.

For me, the A-list does not matter: I was only ever going to apply for seats in the region where I was born and bred, and that remains the case. If the party is prepared to be flexible with the A-list to actively encourage good local candidates, then I believe the party will hopefully not only have excellent candidates selected: it will then be rewarded with many new excellent MPs at the next general election."

Jonathan is representative of many of my friends. They're in their early thirties and fought a seat last time. They are feeling pretty abandoned and demotivated. They see themselves being overtaken by people who are new to the Party and have no track record. Quite naturally they are asking: should I bother any longer? I am constantly urging them not to give up, to stick with it as you never know what's round the corner. But these are pretty hollow words if little is done by the Centre to demonstrate that these people have a future. Since the original 'A' List correspondence I think I am right in saying that not a single letter or email has been sent out to non 'A' List candidates, apart from those exhorting them to help in various by-elections. Some candidates have not even been alerted to the fact that a seat in their locality is selecting - should candidates really have to learn about this from ConservativeHome? This is not the way to keep people motivated.

There needs to be a complete rethink about the way the Party communicates with its candidates - who are, after all, the 'poor bloody infantry'.

Jonathan Sheppard is right to highlight the benefits of being allowed to select local candidates. His suggestion that candidates should be allowed to apply for seats in their own region is a good one, and one I believe is being considered by the Party. It should be adopted. In that way, every candidate currently on the Approved List can feel they have a future and a real chance of being selected.

I learned yesterday that I have been put on the 'A' List. I've not made a big song and dance about it and don't intend to. And it won't affect what I write on this blog. End of.


52 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Iain!

Cicero said...

I must say I always found it strange that you were not an A lister. Congratulations anyway and I look forward to crossing swords before too long!

Hughes Views said...

Well done Iain. Can I now look forward to you being the Conservative candidate in Cheltenham (currently showing as a Tory gain from LibDem (good!) on a site that analyses polling results viz. http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/ )

Jonathan Sheppard said...

Well deserved Mr Dale. The issue I wanted to highlight was to try to show that candidates who arent successful shouldn't throw their toys out of the pram. In my view the party needs to ensure good local candidates, those with public sector experience and the like are still encouraged, and also have a plan for those who may feel like calling it a day, who we really need to continue fighting for a Conservative victory.

Andrew Ian Dodge said...

Congratulations Iain; not terribly surprised I must admit.

Anonymous said...

Iain,

Agree with much of what you said, but you sound as if prospective candidates are only willing to work for the party if they are going to get a "seat".

What about the real "bloody infantry", the members, helpers and councillors who give hours to the party for no reward and no glory !

Well done on becoming and A-lister, we all knew you were anyway !!

Anonymous said...

Well one Iain. On the piece, I've been advocating regional lists since the A list idea appeared. Let's hope CCHQ take some notice of the article.

Anonymous said...

Well done. Am I allowed a "I told you so"?

Anonymous said...

Councillors get paid somersetbob, and until on the onset of the A list - most candidates had been footsoldiers for many years.

Anonymous said...

I'm pleased for you. Now, about this problem I'm having with .....................

Sir Compton Valence said...

Good. Hope you get a safe seat and for God's sake continue to be your own man.

strapworld said...

Iain, well said.
However there are many 'older' prospective candidates who have been ignored.

Ask most people, here in the third world known as the West Country, and they will tell you how important it is to have good LOCAL candidates. That most certainly has been the success story of the Lib Dems here, sadly!

I stood as a reference for an excellent man, willing to stand in the new North Cornwall Constituency. (Newquay will go to Truro) A local man, a Bodmin man (Bodmin the ancient capital of Kernow), highly respected there. Was going through the selection process, I was contacted as was his other referees, when Cameron took over.

RESULT? Nothing, absolutely nothing. No letter explaining why th delay, no letter apologising. I doubt now if my friend would stand. BUT I can tell you that candidates from 'outside' will never do well down here and the Tories had better take that on board.

It took the excellent Geoffrey Cox twice to get in and his first election was marred by the Lib Dems suggesting he was not 'local'! Childish,Silly I accept BUT it matters to people here.

I am sure it must be the same in other parts of the Country also.

My message to the tories is listen to your local constituencies and concentrate on what will win in those constituencies.Not everyone will want a lesbian, Gay or Notting Hill Din ner Set forced upon them.

Maude should wake up to the fact that people are different in most parts of our wonderful country.

Iain, I will put in a good word for you in Bodmin, should my friend not get on any list!

Anonymous said...

phone cam foolery,

Gosh you know how to upset a man dont you! Offering Iain a seat at Arsenal when he supports the 'ammers!

Anonymous said...

Congrats Iain,bout time

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Iain, this country (let alone the Conservative Party) needs people of integrity who want to go into public service for the right reasons. Everything I've read on your blog suggests that is exactly the person you are - well done. very glad to hear the news.

Paul Linford said...

Well done, but this post reminded me of the (probably apocryphal) newspaper story we were all taught not to write at journalism college, the one where the local MP comes to open the village fete, thanks the Mayor and all the local worthies, and then in the last par we learn that having delivered the speech, he collapsed on the platform and pegged it!

Anonymous said...

Well done Mr. Dale. Delighted for you. Hope it doesn't curb your enthusiasm for shining a light into dark corners....

Archbishop Cranmer said...

One would offer congratulations...

but it is inevitable that this blog will henceforth be hopelessly compromised as Mr Dale becomes a subjective apologist for CCHQ and Conservative Party policy.

The intention to continue blogging 'as before' is admirable, but ultimately this blog will be as incongruous with Mr Dale's ambitions as editing 'The Spectator' was for Boris Johnson's aspirations.

A man may not serve two masters...

Anonymous said...

Splendid news! I am genuinely delighted and it is the first bit of positive A List news I have heard in ages.

Now all we need to do is get my old gaffer Karl McCartney (who stood and did fantastically in non-target Lincoln last time) on.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
JohnJo said...

Nice one Iain.

Anonymous said...

strapworld 01.01

Good on yer strappers, this is not another of your and Iain's wind ups is it? How are the runner beans?

Anonymous said...

Iain, theres still no way of holding a star down.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Iain. When returned to parliament your combination of wit and humanity will shine out like an amethyst on a dunghill.

Anonymous said...

Well done Iain!

Anonymous said...

Excellant news Iain.

Anonymous said...

To be appointed to the A-list (or anything else) by the present incumbents at Conservative HQ would be a dubious honour at the best of times but, if this is what you really want, please add my congratulations to everybody else's. OTOH, apropos of the ever-expanding list, the only thing that comes immediately to mind is "if everybody's somebody, nobody's anybody"

dizzy said...

well done Iain. Assuming you go for a seat within reletively easy distance of me I'm sure I could deliver some leaflets or something.

Anonymous said...

Congratters, Iain.
As a token of goodwill, I'll lay off the A list - just for today, mind.

Croydonian said...

You are right on the money with the comment about a broader definition of local when allowing candidates to put their names forward.

And naturally I extend my congratulation for getting on the list and wish you the very best of luck.

Cinnamon Marine said...

Well done on making the list Iain - I must say though, I was surprised you weren't on it first time round.

Anonymous said...

Well done Iain and thoroughly well deserved.

Anonymous said...

Well done Iain.Reading strapworld it is going to take some good A listers to win in Cornwall.The Tom Toms are saying that the conservatives are changing into trelawnys army and are in no mood to be messed with. The associations need to pick their own like the lib dems to stay motivated, and the distance for A listers to travel will be a demotivating factor in itself plus the cornish reticence.

The Military Wing Of The BBC said...

"and it won't effect what I write on this blog"

yeah right

or should I say yeah Flight?

(well done though)

strapworld said...

Sammy the sailor said...The beans are absolutely delicious, poured some hot garlic butter on them..exquisite!

wmbyrd..The Beryl Cook sets down here are £32.65..grab a bargain. Pink is the preferred colour of course.

_________________

Iain, I am serious (for once) about Cornwall and Devon. Fraser was an excellent candidate for North Devon, he actually lived in the constituency following his selection BUT....he's not local! Please believe me and get the message over to the Conservative High Command..you have GOT to have local people fighting on LOCAL issues to stand a chance, and you have a wonderful chance in the Bodmin area now with a new MP (Lib Dem) who is as dull as dull can be!

Mind you the conservative candidate was a man called Formosa from Newquay and a more uninspiring man you cannot wish to meet and...you've guessed it HE is on the A list! for Taunton.

No chance.

But Iain I am worried that you will want to conform now.

Anonymous said...

*G*R*A*T*Z* !!! :)

Anonymous said...

Well done Iain. Unless you want promotion, I can't see any problem as an MP in saying exactly what you think on anything. You're a very popular guy in the party doing your present stuff and I should expect a warm welcome from the constituences.

Anonymous said...

Strapworld said:
"I stood as a reference for an excellent man, willing to stand in the new North Cornwall Constituency. (Newquay will go to Truro) A local man, a Bodmin man (Bodmin the ancient capital of Kernow), highly respected there. Was going through the selection process, I was contacted as was his other referees, when Cameron took over.

RESULT? Nothing, absolutely nothing. No letter explaining why the delay, no letter apologising. I doubt now if my friend would stand."

This is exactly what has happened to a friend of mine. Filed his application in April 2004, had his references taken, just missed the last PAB before the 2005 election and then... no contact from CCHQ at all and no reply to letters. Eventually used a bit of leverage with a grande dame of the current CCHQ set up. And, lo and behold, a call from a staffer at CCHQ with instructions to turn up for a pre-PAB interview in....... two months time!

If you are not a Machiavelli or Friend of Dave/Frank, it's really quite hard work even to get to the start line.

Well done, Iain. I wish you well.

Anonymous said...

WITH YOU ON THE A LIST NOW SHOWS THAT THE FIRST ONE WAS A LAUGH AND JUST A DRESS REHEARSAL. HOWEVER EVEN THOUGH THE PARTY NEEDS CHARACTERS OF INTELLIGENSIA LIKE YOU IAIN, EVEN YOU WOULDNT MAKE HEADWAY DOWN HERE AND CORNWALL WOULD CLEARLY BE A NO GO AREA UNLESS YOU WERE ONE OF THEIR HANSOMES. THE WHOLE THING WOULD BE DE-MOTIVATING.LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF LOCAL CHARACTERS MUDD, PENHALIGAN,TAYLOR GOLDSWORTHY etc

Anonymous said...

Congratulations from a regular reader from Norway Mr Dale!

You are going to be a great sound tory, hope you continue blogging even if you are a PPC, MP and Conservative front bencher:-)

Ellee Seymour said...

I'm delighted Iain, any chance of heading back to East Anglia?

ian said...

Congratulations Iain. I'm not a tory (you may have noticed that), but I'd be happy to have you as my MP. How do I get you nominated? Do I have to bump off the existing tory MP first?

Anonymous said...

Heartiest congratulations.

Iain Dale said...

Can I just make clear that I will not be applying for seats in Cornwall! I don't know where this idea came from that I might! I've only ever been there twice in my life. I agree with what some have said - local candidates are best for Cornwall.

PoliticalHackUK said...

Aarrgghhh.

I think I'll be drummed out of the party for congratulating you, but what the hell...

Iain Dale said...

Thanks to everyone (well, nearly everyone!) for their good wishes.

Hughes, 12.07 Don't think Cheltenham will be on my radar...

Somersetbob, that's not what I meant at all. Of course you're right that it's not just candidates who are the poor bloody infantry.

Phonecam, I can faithfully promise that I will never accept hospitality from Arsenal... And I may be from Essex, but nowhere near Harlow!

Cranmer, you're too much of a cynic. I'm surprised. I shall continue to speak my mind on issues that I care about - that doesn't mean on anything and everything. I'm a Conservative and support my Party but if I disagree with it on something, being on the A List doesn't mean that I'm muzzled and gagged. I shall continue to speak out for low taxes and small government.

OldSarum, not sure what you mean by the Norfolk Broads being safe in my hands. Keith Simpson has been selected for the Broadland seat already, and I have already said that I will not be applying for the Mid Norfolk seat.

Ellee, as an Essex boy I'd love to fight a seat in my home county, but I don't see many opportunities there I'm afraid next time!

Ian, I'd have to know who your MP was before I could advise you!

Gareth said...

Congratulations Iain, I wish you all the luck in the world.

I would quite like to hear your views on this story though.

The Daily Pundit said...

Surprise them all, Iain. Show them what you're made of. Apply for a seat in Liverpool. Or Newcastle. Brrrr.

Anonymous said...

As a member of the Cornwall brigade, I would just point out that many of us dont have an issue with candidates being gay or notting hill.

I am proud that I was one of the few down here who voted for DC and it was to get rid of bigots like strapworld from the Party.

Anonymous said...

"And it won't affect what I write on this blog. End of."
What. No more scathing praise of Dave?

Devil's Kitchen said...

Iain,

Notwithstanding my recent grumpiness, many congratulations; I am sure that you will be an excellent and consciensous MP.

DK

Mike D said...

Congratulations Iain- and don't let them nobble the blog.