How does one become an MP?

Well, MP is one the hardest jobs to get into. There are 646 (Soon 650) spots, with at least three candidates per seat. You will have to sink pretty much your entire life into it once you seriously decide to go for it, and you will probably end up alienating numerous friends and family members in the process.

It is best to get experience first, not just work experience, but life experience. Also, I'd recommend starting slow. Councillor or member of a devolved assembly/parliament if you can. Then build up.

That's my plan. GLA member first, then one day MP :biggrin:

Reply 3

User192499

Sell your soul, then lock yourself in a room for a few years until you're nicely loopy, with the odd sadistic tendency. Come up with ways to improve your own image, then tell the world it's for their sake. ANDMAKETHEMBELIEVEIT. Get an incredibly out of date hair cut, preferably a bouffant, and start wearing ill-fitting trouser suits. Invest in some coral coloured lipstick and practice your grimace. Practice the ancient art of subtext so that you can promise everything while knowing nothing. Hire some clever advertising companies to make slogans which ooze wit, and broadcasts with more cleverly encoded sumbliminal messages than syllables. Strut around slum areas in your Jimmy Choos kissing babies while ensuring all local cameras get you at your most "sentimental" angle. Smile constantly, but never show your teeth for fear of revealing your carnivorous bloodlust.

Then simply waltz into parliament, shout "right chaps, I can make us powerful!" and the world's your shellfish.

Reply 4

coren111

OP

BruceTaylor

Well, MP is one the hardest jobs to get into. There are 646 (Soon 650) spots, with at least three candidates per seat. You will have to sink pretty much your entire life into it once you seriously decide to go for it, and you will probably end up alienating numerous friends and family members in the process.

It is best to get experience first, not just work experience, but life experience. Also, I'd recommend starting slow. Councillor or member of a devolved assembly/parliament if you can. Then build up.

That's my plan. GLA member first, then one day MP :biggrin:

Thanks for that. So what can I do right now (hopefully going to uni next year/the year after) apart from going to meetings/think tanks etc. And what should I do @ uni because I know lots of cabinet minsters got involved in politics at uni. After uni should I join a think tank if I find one that interesting (are they really hard to get into?)

Do you need to suck up to everyone? Does anyone know how you land in the position where you are your party's candidate for a constituency in a General Election?

Reply 5

Nothos

coren111

Thanks for that. So what can I do right now (hopefully going to uni next year/the year after) apart from going to meetings/think tanks etc. And what should I do @ uni because I know lots of cabinet minsters got involved in politics at uni. After uni should I join a think tank if I find one that interesting (are they really hard to get into?)

Do you need to suck up to everyone? Does anyone know how you land in the position where you are your party's candidate for a constituency in a General Election?

Well, can I ask what party you're in?

As a general rule, join your party's youth movement, take part in campaigning, and try to get to the higher ranks within it, get yourself known :smile:

Reply 6

122025278

coren111

Thanks for that. So what can I do right now (hopefully going to uni next year/the year after) apart from going to meetings/think tanks etc. And what should I do @ uni because I know lots of cabinet minsters got involved in politics at uni. After uni should I join a think tank if I find one that interesting (are they really hard to get into?)

Do you need to suck up to everyone? Does anyone know how you land in the position where you are your party's candidate for a constituency in a General Election?

The constituency party select you as their candidate, sometimes central office step in and advise, such as how Ed Balls and the Millibands got their seats. They'd worked as advisors/civil servants and when it became time to bring them into government they were selected for a seat.

It would be extremely hard to become a Conservative candidate. Cameron has a list of 100 candiates called the A list, they are pretty much all Oxbridge, upper class and a few of them are Etonians, look it up

Reply 7

gyyy2807

I think firstly you've got to work for an politician to get experience. Then, you gradually build up your popularity in an area and get elected.

Reply 8

coren111

OP

122025278

The constituency party select you as their candidate, sometimes central office step in and advise, such as how Ed Balls and the Millibands got their seats. They'd worked as advisors/civil servants and when it became time to bring them into government they were selected for a seat.

It would be extremely hard to become a Conservative candidate. Cameron has a list of 100 candiates called the A list, they are pretty much all Oxbridge, upper class and a few of them are Etonians, look it up

Is that The A-list: new leader's drive for women and minority candidates http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2006/apr/19/uk.conservatives
haha

Sorry I forgot to mention the party in question is the British National Party.

Jokes. Labour

Reply 9

Nonsmoking

12

Here's a list of previous/current jobs of Cameron's 'A-list':

Two-thirds of the Newsnight 100 work in the world of business, media and politics. Eighteen per cent are in finance; 17% in politics; 17% in media, PR and campaigning and 14% in business. Nine are lawyers; six are medics and three work in education. The rest are a mixed bag - anything from the Metropolitan Police and the Ministry of Sound to farming and the stage.

So, whatever 'business, media and politics' means, that's your best bet.

Edit: If you want to be Tory candidate. Obviously.

Reply 10

Prince Rhyus

Please please please please please...

...go into something outside of politics first.

The best MPs and ministers that I've worked with are those with experience of living and working in the real world.

Reply 11

Andylol

Have an affair with a MP's wife.

Reply 12

Edenr

122025278

The constituency party select you as their candidate, sometimes central office step in and advise, such as how Ed Balls and the Millibands got their seats. They'd worked as advisors/civil servants and when it became time to bring them into government they were selected for a seat.

It would be extremely hard to become a Conservative candidate. Cameron has a list of 100 candiates called the A list, they are pretty much all Oxbridge, upper class and a few of them are Etonians, look it up

OP, don't let things like the above put you off. Where I study a 19 year old local chap is our party's candidate for the next general election and he is none of those things.

Reply 13

indigovioletred

Oh god, don't become a career politician. Go get a real job first, and get experience through the party, becoming a local councillor etc.

Reply 14

coren111

OP

Edenr

OP, don't let things like the above put you off. Where I study a 19 year old local chap is our party's candidate for the next general election and he is none of those things.

That's nice to hear. How did this guy you know manage to get in the position he's currently in?

Reply 15

122025278

Edenr

OP, don't let things like the above put you off. Where I study a 19 year old local chap is our party's candidate for the next general election and he is none of those things.

Link

Reply 16

Edenr

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2008/11/nick-varley-sel.html

122025278

Link

Reply 17

ttx

13

coren111

I've joined a political party. I am in year 13. I want to eventually become an MP. Is this a stupid unfeasible dream?

No, but think about why you want to be an MP and make sure it's for the right reasons. There might be many other careers that you're unaware of which might allows you to achieve the same aims.

If not how should I pursue it? Or should I try and get a job first eg lawyer. Who's going to vote for a 21 year old brand new graduate anyway? How hard is it to become an MP?

It's hard but not as hard as people think. Most political parties are pretty weak at the ground level, and if you're smart and determined you can have a decent chance.

You need to figure out your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. You know that the first thing anyone's going to think is "you're too young and have no experience, why should you be an MP", you need to think of an answer that turns that into a plus.

Do you have to suck up to the local party members?

Yes.

But in general the rules are the same for any other career: learn everything you can, get experience, network like crazy.

Reply 18

jacketpotato

20

BruceTaylor

Well, MP is one the hardest jobs to get into. There are 646 (Soon 650) spots, with at least three candidates per seat. You will have to sink pretty much your entire life into it once you seriously decide to go for it, and you will probably end up alienating numerous friends and family members in the process.

It is best to get experience first, not just work experience, but life experience. Also, I'd recommend starting slow. Councillor or member of a devolved assembly/parliament if you can. Then build up.

That's my plan. GLA member first, then one day MP :biggrin:

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. The first paragraph is complete and total rubbish.

Op, obviously you have to stand on behalf of a party to have a realistic chance. This is done through the party. To give an example, Conservative guidelines are here: http://www.conservatives.com/pdf/howtomp.pdf
If you were suitable, you would most likely be chosen to contest a seat you have absolutely no chance of winning at first (such as the links given to that 19year old: in his constituency the Conservatives are in 3rd place, and would need a swing of over 30% to take the seat).

Reply 19

122025278