In an attempt to clean up up the political mess that has engulfed all parties, David Cameron is to open up the Conservative Party's list of candidates to anyone who wants to join.
This is a long overdue move that will help to modernise the Conservative Party, get rid of the so-called 'party grandees' who expected a seat for life, and I hope other parties will follow suit.
Politics should be about public service, not just about getting your expected due reward because you have been a member of a political party since you were three years old.
Ironically, this process of open selection in politics could have started at the creation of the National Assembly for Wales when Kevin Morgan, Chairman of the Yes campaign, asked for the "brightest and the best" to be attracted to the new devolved body.
He again expressed his frustration that talented people had not been able to gain nominations for winnable seats because they were not “party insiders”.
"Speaking at a conference to mark the forthcoming 10th anniversary of devolution Professor Morgan, who chaired the Yes campaign, said he interviewed skilled men and women from across “health, education, the arts, the professions” on behalf of the Labour party but they were rejected. “That for me is the reason for the biggest disappointment of all, namely the low calibre of AMs,” he added."
Unfortunately, the party machines got their way and it didn't happen and those who had been loyal party servants got the pick of the best seats. By and large, nothing has much has changed since and the same process continues regardless.
Hopefully, this move by Cameron will herald a new revolution in politics, at both an Assembly and Westminster level, a revolution that will bring us the politicians we need and deserve to get this nation out of the mess it is in.
This is a long overdue move that will help to modernise the Conservative Party, get rid of the so-called 'party grandees' who expected a seat for life, and I hope other parties will follow suit.
Politics should be about public service, not just about getting your expected due reward because you have been a member of a political party since you were three years old.
Ironically, this process of open selection in politics could have started at the creation of the National Assembly for Wales when Kevin Morgan, Chairman of the Yes campaign, asked for the "brightest and the best" to be attracted to the new devolved body.
He again expressed his frustration that talented people had not been able to gain nominations for winnable seats because they were not “party insiders”.
"Speaking at a conference to mark the forthcoming 10th anniversary of devolution Professor Morgan, who chaired the Yes campaign, said he interviewed skilled men and women from across “health, education, the arts, the professions” on behalf of the Labour party but they were rejected. “That for me is the reason for the biggest disappointment of all, namely the low calibre of AMs,” he added."
Unfortunately, the party machines got their way and it didn't happen and those who had been loyal party servants got the pick of the best seats. By and large, nothing has much has changed since and the same process continues regardless.
Hopefully, this move by Cameron will herald a new revolution in politics, at both an Assembly and Westminster level, a revolution that will bring us the politicians we need and deserve to get this nation out of the mess it is in.
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