ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Do you want to be a Conservative MP? Here's some advice...

Last week ConservativeHome published a guide to the decidedly Thatcherite views of the candidates who have been adopted as Conservative candidates for the next General Election.  126 adopted candidates took part in the survey that also asked for advice for all those contemplating following in their footsteps.  Below we group the advice they offered - chosen to be representative of the whole:

DON'T LEAVE FIRST BASE WITHOUT YOUR FAMILY'S SUPPORT
> "The road to being a candidate and MP gobbles up time and money.  If your spouse isn't 100% committed you are putting your marriage at risk.  Support from partner/ husband/ wife is a first base call."
> "Be prepared to work very hard without thanks or reward, often without the full support of your association, to miss out on promotion at work and to risk strife at home! That said, it can be very fulfilling and of course if / when you win, it will all seem worth the stress."

DON'T PUT ALL OF YOUR EGGS IN THE 'I WANNA BECOME AN MP' BASKET
> "Most of the people who started on this search with me have given up or STILL haven't been adopted. For most people the road to becoming an MP isn't just hard and long but unsuccessful."
> "Get a job and life, and when you have done something real and valuable, then consider standing for office."
> "Be patient; get on with life outside politics and make a success of it because a political career is highly unreliable; have fun."

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, IT'S WHO YOU KNOW
> "Seriously - do some homework - and be seen in the right places - by elections, various events that the area CCHQ staff are at...and the like...don't bother doing 10,15, 20 years working your way up through the ranks gaining experience."
> "Lick up to everyone in CCHQ who matters to get on the A list - get the fix in your favour and make sure you're good on the night too."
> "Hold your nose while youre on your way up. Say nice things to the CCO staff who will lose your CV or put it on the top of the pile. It's nauseating but these people have so much power.Too much power."
> "I was told by a CCHQ employee that if I applied for the seat they would ensure I got an interview.  We'll manage the sift for you. It was a person I'd bought champagne at the last Party Conference. It was the best £35 I ever spent in my time in the party."

PREPARE TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY
> "Over the last ten years I've spent at least £100,000 getting to this point and I feel lucky. I will be an MP in the first Conservative government of the 21st century but many others have spent tens of thousands and have got nowhere."

> A ConservativeHome survey - published last year - found that the average cost of becoming a Conservative MP was £41,500.  49% of adopted candidates expect their candidacies to cost more than this when they add up direct costs and lost income opportunities.  The same survey found that 55% thought that their incomes would drop if they become MPs.

PERSEVERE: THIS IS A MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT
> "Get a thick skin. Work hard and be prepared for a long, hard and lonely haul."
> "Develop elephant hide."
> "Do not give up, keep on keeping on."
> "It is a marathon not a sprint and you must pace yourself accordingly."

SPEND MONEY ON EXPERT HELP
> "Don't do this on your own. Hire a coach. Talk to candidates already selected about who to hire."
> "I got no where until I started getting professional help. Getting selected is partly an art but there's also science to what you say, what you wear, how you prepare. A few thousands spent now on good advice from the likes of Mark Fulbrook will get you selected faster and so save you many thousands more down the road."

DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF WHY YOU GOT INTO ALL OF THIS
"Know why you're doing it and be prepared to compromise your career and say goodbye to evenings and weekends."

YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN...
> "Don't expect the work that needs to be done in most marginal seats to be done by others - expect to have to alter your whole life."
> "Expect help from nobody but yourself."
> "Be prepared for very little support from the party, count any support as a blessing."
> "If you lose you seat then expect to be very, very lonely. No one thanks you."
> "Be prepared for a fractious and ungrateful local Association. If you get a decent one, you're lucky."

...UNLESS YOU FORM A CIRCLE OF TRUST
> "The best thing I have is my group of three. Three friends who are part of the party and know the score. They tell me what is going on, they tell me when I am being sensible or paranoid. They tell me if I'm being fair to my family or unfeeling. I rehearsed my selection speeches in front of them."

AND FINALLY...
> "Never use notes when speaking. You should know what you have to say. If you can't do this then realistically you are probably not going to make it as an MP."
> "Get the CV filled up with hands-on campaigning wherever's handy for you. For example, don't write a press release about saving a post office: Go and work in one, even in a different constituency, and go to the public meetings. Then you'll be able to show the selection committee, or open primary that, while you acknowledge the party is doing wonders nationally, you will get stuck in locally. It really isn't all about top notch public speaking skills and a conveniently healthy bank balance. It's convincing the selection panel that voters will connect with you, and be prepared to trust you. That you'll get your hands dirty, however needy and unrealistic constituents may be, that you'll do what you say you will etc. For that reason alone, be realistic about the seats you go for, especially where it's unlikely you'll win. Putting in effort locally is one thing: Travelling miles before you can get started is another. Also, if you have no energy, no personality, no sense of humour, a history of giving up in the face of disappointment or a tendancy to get very angry at every unfairness with which you are visited, look for other ways of having a fulfilling life. A recollection that being a MP is about public service would also help."

The beliefs of the next generation of Conservative MPs

Here are the answers to the remaining policy-focused questions that ConservativeHome.com put to 225 of the candidates that have been adopted for constituencies.  The statistics are based on replies from 126 candidates.  CCHQ gave candidates permission to answer the survey and those that did answer represent a mix of those selected for top target seats, harder-to-win seats and a mix of candidates from the A list and those who enjoyed local dispensations.  The survey results are also featured in today's Telegraph.


Question 1

Which of the following statements comes closest to your view when it comes to the possibility of the Conservative Party making a commitment at the next election to take very poor workers out of the income tax system altogether?

> Yes, we should become the party that champions the lower-paid worker: 85%
> No, the public finances are too tight to make any commitments on lower tax: 15%

Question 2

Please state whether you agree or disagree with the following propositions:

> An English Parliament: Agree 20%, Disagree 70%

> Substantial reform of the Barnett formula: Agree 86%, Disagree 3%

> A significant expansion of the nuclear power industry: Agree 83%, Disagree 9%

> Higher taxation of cars and airlines, offset by lower taxation of families: Agree 40%, Disagree 52%

> Support for marriage from the tax system: Agree 93%, Disagree 7%

> Capital punishment for the murder of a police officer: Agree 24%, Disagree 72%

> A fully-elected House of Lords: Agree 30%, Disagree 61%

Editor's comment: "At the next General Election we may see the biggest increase in the number of Conservative MPs in modern times.  In many ways the values of these MPs will be more important than the Tory manifesto.  Most of them will outlast Cameron's leadership.  Within a year or two many of them will be filling ministerial offices.  ConservativeHome surveys suggest that they want lower taxes, an expansion of nuclear power and recognition of marriage.  They support a lower time limit for abortion, radical overhaul of the Barnett formula and are more worried about terrorism than climate change.  We also learn that they are pro-poor Conservatives, favouring tax relief that is focused on lower income workers."

Listed below are results previously published.

92% of Tory candidates oppose 42 days

If Ann Widdecombe was likely to be pleased with Friday's news that a clear majority of the next generation of Conservative MPs supported reductions in the time limit for abortion she'll be less impressed with the second finding of ConservativeHome.com's exclusive survey of adopted Tory candidates.  Today we reveal that more than 90% of candidates oppose Labour's plans to legislate for 42 days pre-charge detention.  The next parliamentary intake is as civil libertarian as David Davis.

More results will be revealed over the coming days.

The next generation of Conservative MPs support a lower time limit for abortions

Over the last few days ConservativeHome.com has been conducting a survey of the next generation of Conservative MPs.  We are attempting to build a profile of what is likely to be the biggest intake of Tory parliamentarians in modern times.

We emailed 225 candidates and at the time of this post, 107 had answered our questions.  We'll be releasing the results of the full survey over the next few days.  We begin with their answers to questions on the time limit for abortion.  These answers also feature prominently in today's Daily Mail.

The survey results suggest that the new intake of candidates is as likely to vote for a more restrictive abortion policy as current Conservative MPs.  83% of Conservative MPs voted for 22 weeks when the issue was recently debated in the Commons.  Our survey suggests that 11% of adopted candidates support the status quo and 4% don't know.  85% support a more restrictive abortion law.

A majority support a 20 week limit or less.  Nadine Dorries MP, the founder of the 20 weeks campaign, welcomed the results:

"'They are absolutely wired in to the public mood.  These are the views I would expect from people working outside of the Westminster bubble and who have a genuine desire to represent the majority wish of their constituents."

Daniel Kawczynski MP explains why he voted for a reduction to 12 weeks on the Platform today.

Click on the image below to inspect the full results.

Most Tory candidates expect to see income fall if they become MPs

ConservativeHome has repolled our candidates that we first profiled here.

In the context of the debate on MPs' pay, 72 candidates answered our questions on the financial consequences of entering the Commons and of being a candidate.

Q1. What would happen to your income if you became an MP?

• My income would double: 15%
• My income would increase but by less than 100%: 14%
• My income would be about the same: 15%
• My income is about 50% greater than what I would expect to earn as an MP: 29%
• My income is more than 50% greater than what I would expect to earn as an MP: 26%

Q2. Last year ConservativeHome estimated that the cost of becoming a Conservative MP was an average £41,500 in terms of expenses and lost income opportunities. From your own experience, would you say that this cost was:

• Greater than I expect to incur: 17%
• About what I expect to incur: 34%
• Less than what I expect to incur: 49%

Q3. Do you plan to pursue other financial interests if you became an MP?

• Yes: 21%
• No: 50%
• Don't know: 29%

'Why are you a Conservative?'

Yesterday we noted what the next generation of Conservative MPs think about some key issues.  We also asked our sample of candidates a question that attempted to find out whether they saw politics as largely about service or leadership.

It's impossible to read much into the question and answers but 36% (24 candidates) agreed that "politics is primarily about serving the people and understanding their concerns."  64% (42 candidates) thought that "politics is primarily about doing what is best for the country and being willing to challenge and lead public opinion."

Our final question asked: Why are you a Conservative?

Key themes that emerged in the answers were a love of freedom, distrust of government, a belief in individual responsibility and patriotism.

The verbatim responses (of those who answered this question and who cannot be identified by their answers) are posted below:

1. Trust the people
2. Because I believe in one nation, freedom from State intervention, inclusivity and empowering people to achieve
3. I believe people should have the right to make their own choices in life and to be given the opportunity to exercise that right.I am a "doer not a done for" but recognise that others may need to be supported.Conservatives are caring but not controlling.
4. I believe in individual choice and opportunity for all.
5. I believe people should have the right to make their own choices in life and to be given the opportunity to exercise that right.I am a "doer not a done for" but recognise that others may need to be supported.Conservatives are caring but not controlling.
6. I believe in individual choice and opportunity for all.
7. I believe that people should have freedom and choice within their daily lives. This very simple concept is central to the Conservative vision for our country.
8. Because I believe in order, discipline and personal freedom.
9. I am a Conservative because I believe that individuals and families generally know what is best for themselves and how best to spend their own money. Government is not good at allocating resources.
10. Because I believe in freedom, individual choice and oppose intervention by the state.
11. TO PROTECT CORE SOCIAL VALUES AND BELIEFS.
12. because I support the NHS and this government has failed to deliver, because I want young people to have the best education and this government has failed to deliver, because over the last 10 years we have seen the rise in the far-right because this government has lost the confidence of the british people over immigration, because people have been robbed of their hard earned money and have not seen the benefits of their tax contributions, fundamentally I believe that a conservative administration will focus on delivery and is hungry again to lead this great country
13. I believe in free markets and in people making their own decisions not government, but at the same time caring for those who need it.
14. I believe in the institutions of this country, an organic rather than an artificial approach to political development, a small state and a strong nation, freedom of the individual and the role of government being to create opportunity.
15. I believe Conservatives offer opportunity rather than hand outs. I believe the great leaps forward for Britain have been the result of conservative thinkers.
16. Because I believe in freedom of the individual.
17. I want to help and inspire people to meet their dreams and aspirations and believe that through doing this we can create a stronger society.
18. I believe in an opportunity society that triumphs individuals and communities. I believe that whilst the state often has worthy aspirations it is a blunt instrument that typically fails to deliver.
19. Margaret Thatcher's shining example & to implement the principles of Thatcherism.
20. Because I believe in a smaller state, in the ability and right of people to make important decisions about themselves, their families, their communities.
21. Because I believe in freedom, the right to determine my own life as far as possible and in a state that is subservient to the people, not the other way round
22. I believe in the freedoms and the responsibilities of the individual citizen as opposed to an overbearing and intrusive state.
23. Because I believe in a free market economy, low taxation, minimal regulation, the nation state, liberty, freedom, strong defence and the rule of law
24. Because I believe in people. I believe that they know what is best for them and their families. I believe in big people and small Government and that Government exists to serve people and act as a facilitator to allow them to make the best of their potential. We need to stop putting Government first and start putting people first. We need to trust the people.
25. Phew! If I had some more time I promise I'd write a good essay! Choice, opportunity, helping people to help others, less State more personal responsibility and citizenship, lower taxes, safety net but not benefit culture creation which kills self-esteem in the longer term, etc!
26. freedom of choice, freedom of speech and not a fear of political correctness, smaller government. Protection of our British identity.
27. Because I believe in pragmatism over dogma and because I believe in freedom over a central state.
28. Because I believe that if you have a problem, the first place you should look is in the mirror.
29. I am a Conservative because I believe that people do best when allowed to make decisions for themselves and people should be allowed to go about their daily lives without too much inteference from Government. As a Conservative, I am always mindful of and helpful towards those that cannot help themselves. I am also sure that Conservatism is the route to aspiration and opportunity and not the interference and control doctrine as displayed by our political opponents.
30. Conservative principles of freeing up people to manage their own lives whilst having a safety net for those that can't, is where we do best when in power.
31. Because I believe in freedom, liberty and individual responsibility none of which are believed in by the other parties.
32. because i believe in a small state which seeks to minimise it's interference in the daily lives of it's citizens
33. because I believe in small government
34. Belief in the rule of law and the freedom of the idividual. A belief that everyone is equal before the law and a hatred of patronage and favouritism. A love of and pride in Britain. A belief in the power of the idividual. A love of democracy. True liberalism. Freemarket economics. Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron.
35. I believe in personal freedom and the right to self determination. But above all, we should empower people to improve their own situation.
36. Because I believe that the individual is more important than the State.
37. I am a one nation conservative. I believe that people generally make better choices in their own lives and communities. I believe less is more when it comes to the State and how one exercises choices, in all aspects of life (subject to a safety net for the vulnerable). Conservatives plan for the long term with a conservative outlook, and have a natural reluctance to change that which works - but view things with pragmatic realism.
38. Because I believe in personal liberty tempered by a social responsibility to others. I believe that the party has always stood for that and the successful left-wing damning of the Thatcher years as being solely about the first and not the latter, was a disgrace that our party was not electorally in a position to defend.
39. I believe people are better at running their own lives than Government. I believe Conservatism throughout it's history has been more innovative, forward-looking and delivers real democracy and justice to the people.
40. Because I'm optimistic about people and their ability to decide what's best for themselves.
41. Conservatives beliefs are in tune with man as a fallible being
42. Because I believe that, on balance, individuals, families and companies are better able than the state to take the key decisions that affect them.
43. Because the Conservatives develop policies that work because they are based on human nature and evidence. Most political parties want a better world - often the desired outcomes are the same, but the way that we want to get there is more based on common sense, pragmatism and an appreciation of history and the country.
44. Because 1. All my life experiences have taught me the fundamental necessity of a culture of responsibility for a successful, free and ordered society and economy, and 2. I believe that the more liberal, global and laissez faire our economy becomes, the more people we all need to belong to something at home that provides order, structure, meaning and reassurance. So contrary to the liberal orthodoxy I believe modern economic liberalism in fact demands societal conservatism. To be a functional society in a global world (dis)order, Britain (and the communities that make it up) will need more than ever to have a sense of its own identity, culture and standards. I believe we are a successful economy but an unhappy and disfunctional society because our leaders have thought that social liberalism is the only and obvious reaction to economic liberalism. The challenge for our generation must be to do for our society what Mrs. Thatcher did for our economy in the sense of a radical revolution to unlock a culture of personal responsibility across public services and society.
45. I deeply believe in the need for social mobility and the reward of hard work and aspiration.
46. Because I was born a free Briton - and I want to die that way.
47. Because I believe in three fundamental values: 1 - that the state should not interfere with people's desire to get on with their lives in a law abiding manner. 2- that the state should pick people up when thay fall off the ladder and help them back on again; or support people who will never make it onto th eladder. 3 - that the traditional family is the fundamental building block of society and this should be protected.
48. Because I believe that people make decisions for themselves, their families and their neighbours better than Whitehall bureaucrats do.
49. I believe in individual liberty and a reduction in the power of the state. That liberty should include economic liberty and social liberty.
50. Because I believe I believe in messy freedom and self-reliance rather than 'bread and circuses'.
51. Because I believe that people, not governments, know what is best for them and should be allowed to get on with their lives without unnecessary interference and intervention from the state.
52. I believe in both freedom and responsibility. Conservatism is a philosophy uniting both.
53. Conservative goal is to empower people, to have small government and to support individuals when they need it.

What do the next generation of Conservative MPs believe?

What do the next generation of Conservative MPs believe? On Sunday an opinion poll gave the Conservatives an 8% lead.  Perhaps more encouragingly, the party was at 43% according to the ICM survey for The Sunday Express.  There is a long way to go before we can be confident of seeing David Cameron becoming Prime Minister but a majority Conservative government now appears a realistic possibility after the next General Election.

ConservativeHome has already estimated that a majority Conservative parliamentary party would include fifty to sixty women.  Although this will only be a sixth to a fifth of the total number of Conservative MPs it is a big improvement on the current proportion.  Francis Maude, Bernard Jenkin and David Cameron will see this as a vindication of their controversial A-list of candidates.

If the A-list has shifted the gender mix of the next Conservative parliamentary party what has it done to its political outlook?  ConservativeHome has attempted to find out.  We contacted 192 of the men and women who, A-listers and non A-listers, have been selected to fight the top tier of constituencies at the next General Election.  70 of that 192 replied to our survey. That 70 included a broad cross-section of A-listers and non A-listers and also candidates in the most winnable seats.

The full aggregate answers can be inspected in this PDF.  What, though, are the big picture conclusions from this first survey of the next parliamentary intake?

The next intake will be Eurosceptic.  94% agreed that too many powers have been transferred from Britain to Europe.  None of our 70 respondents thought that we need to see "further integration".  3% of respondents (two candidates) went for the middle option of the British-EU relationship being "about right".  When the likes of Ken Clarke, Ian Taylor and David Curry leave the Conservative ranks their views on Europe will leave with them.

Security trumps global warming as a concern.  Echoing an ICM survey of existing MPs and ConservativeHome.com's own survey of members, the next intake appears more concerned about terrorism and hostile states than global warming/ climate change.  14% of candidates are most concerned about climate change.  Four times as many - 59% - are more concerned about terrorism.  25% said they are concerned about both issues equally.

A nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable.  Although 29% of candidates thought that "a nuclear Iran is probably unavoidable", twice as many - 61% - thought that "we must do all that is necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons".  10% of our sample didn't know.

Four-fifths want "a fairer deal" for England.  81% "largely agreed" with the suggestion that the "UK taxpayer needs to spend proportionately less on Scotland and give a fairer deal to the rest of the United Kingdom, particularly England."  Just 13% "largely disagreed".

Immigration to Britain has largely been beneficial but not since 1997.  83% of our 70 candidates sample agreed that immigration has largely been beneficial to Britain over the last few decades.  13% disagreed.  Attitudes were reversed when candidates were asked about immigration over the last decade.  Only 28% agreed that it had been largely beneficial.  62% disagreed.

Strong support for nuclear power.  86% thought that a new generation of nuclear power stations are an essential part of meeting Britain's future energy needs.  Just 10% said that they aren't.

Candidates are divided on a 'right-to-die'.  41% (28 candidates) were supportive of legislation that would "make it easier for sick or disabled people to exercise a 'right-to-die'".  44% (30 candidates) opposed such legislation.  This question produced the highest number of don't knows (15% (10 candidates)).  Two candidates skipped this question altogether.

Strong support for freedom of religious association.  We asked our sample if they supported "the right of Catholic or other religious adoption agencies to decline to place children with same sex couples".  71% supported that right.  25% opposed it.

Editor's comment: "The 2005 intake was widely seen as small 'c' conservative in character and has often rebelled against the leadership's most modernising measures.  These findings suggest that the next intake of Tory MPs - set to be much larger - also leans towards a familiar understanding of conservatism.  Most are Eurosceptics, hawkish on security, supportive of nuclear energy, suspicious of the recent scale of immigration and concerned to protect the freedom of religious organisations to hold traditionalist views."

Later today we'll publish the results of our question on whether politics is largely about conviction or service.  Tomorrow we'll be publishing the candidates' verbatim answers to the final question of the ConservativeHome survey: 'Why are you a Conservative?'