Advice from Chris Mullin

I have had my differences with Sunderland South MP Chris Mullin (Labour), but he has an excellent piece in today's Times here with advice for parliamentary candidates.

Extracts from the article:

"Make good use of the chamber. Which means listening as well as speaking. Only make a speech when you have something to say. A succinct intervention in a ministerial speech, delivered in prime time, is often far more effective than a speech delivered to a chamber that is all but empty. Don’t waste time scoring cheap points."

"Be warned. There is a good deal of pointless activity in politics. I urge you to minimise it. Do not confuse busy-ness with effectiveness. Above all, do not neglect your family."

"Some colleagues do relatively little in the House and instead spend every waking hour searching out constituents with problems in order to create the illusion of activity. I advise against this. In any case, it makes very little difference as to whether or not you will be re-elected. Remember, one of the main functions of a backbencher is to hold the executive to account. Something we do imperfectly."

"Finally, respect your opponents. Remember, we have the good fortune to live in a mature democracy that, for all its imperfections, is vastly superior to most alternatives. We are not actually trying to kill each other. It is only an election. One side will lose. One side will win. And the loser will live to fight another day."

Hat tip to Iain Dale who drew the article to my attention.

Comments

Jane said…
Good advice for Jamie Reed. On the 13th January Gregg Clarke, terminated Jamie Reed's intervention on the climate change and the reduction of carbon emissions debate, because he used it to score political points on an issue where there was cross party working. Jamie Reed therefore missed an opportunity to promote the interests of the area with regard to nuclear new build. Neither is it good PR for Copeland to equate the leader of the opposition with a Vidkun Quisling the WWII Norwegian Nazi collaborator, as he did in December.

Chris Mullin is also spot on when he says that it is the role of the backbencher to hold the executive to account. This is true in Parliament and at local Government level. Copeland Council's ruling executive perhaps should take this leaf from Mr Mullin's book, in accepting Overview and Scrutiny as the 'crtical friend'.

When it comes to the crunch the ultimate responsibility of the MP and local councillor is to the interests of the constituents and the ward residents. If that can be done through civilised debate and respect then it is far more productive than points scoring and ego promotion.
1:41 am
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