One of the jobs of political parties in representative democracies is candidate selection
Then came #ge2019
Problem after problem after problem
Then came #ge2019
Problem after problem after problem
I can’t remember an election where the main parties have messed this up so often and so many times
A thread of the most ridiculous and serious cases follows
A thread of the most ridiculous and serious cases follows
1. Amjad Bashir
Tory, Leeds North East
Problems: anti semitism, was in UKIP
Status: still a candidate
thejc.com/news/tory-elec…
Tory, Leeds North East
Problems: anti semitism, was in UKIP
Status: still a candidate
thejc.com/news/tory-elec…
2. Charlie Elphicke
Tory, Dover
Problem: sexual harassment allegations
Status: was replaced with his wife Natalie!
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
Tory, Dover
Problem: sexual harassment allegations
Status: was replaced with his wife Natalie!
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
3. Sally Gimson
Labour, Bassetlaw
Problem: Labour NEC did not like her
Status: NEC dumped Gimson for no sensible reason and against the wishes of the local party. The seat is marginal
bbc.com/news/uk-englan…
Labour, Bassetlaw
Problem: Labour NEC did not like her
Status: NEC dumped Gimson for no sensible reason and against the wishes of the local party. The seat is marginal
bbc.com/news/uk-englan…
4. Gordon Nardell
Labour, Cities of London & Westminster
Problem: Selection mess - candidate has to resign and replacement has questionable record on anti semitism
Status: Nardell still a candidate
msn.com/en-gb/news/new…
Labour, Cities of London & Westminster
Problem: Selection mess - candidate has to resign and replacement has questionable record on anti semitism
Status: Nardell still a candidate
msn.com/en-gb/news/new…
5. Maria Carroll
Labour, Camarthen East
Problem: candidate helps others avoid anti semitism accusations
Status: still a candidate
metro.co.uk/2019/11/17/lab…
Labour, Camarthen East
Problem: candidate helps others avoid anti semitism accusations
Status: still a candidate
metro.co.uk/2019/11/17/lab…
6. Gideon Bull
Labour, Clacton
Problem: anti semitism
Status: stood down as a candidate
itv.com/news/2019-11-0…
Labour, Clacton
Problem: anti semitism
Status: stood down as a candidate
itv.com/news/2019-11-0…
7. Ian Byrne
Labour, Liverpool West Derby
Problem: abusive comments
Status: still a candidate
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/…
Labour, Liverpool West Derby
Problem: abusive comments
Status: still a candidate
thesun.co.uk/news/politics/…
8. Alun Cairns
Tory, Vale of Glamorgan
Problem: sabotaging a rape trial
Status: still a candidate
metro.co.uk/2019/10/31/tor…
Tory, Vale of Glamorgan
Problem: sabotaging a rape trial
Status: still a candidate
metro.co.uk/2019/10/31/tor…
10. Anthony Browne
Tory, South Cambridgeshire
Problem: racism
Status: still a candidate
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
Tory, South Cambridgeshire
Problem: racism
Status: still a candidate
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
11. Kevin McNamara
Lib Dem, Thurrock
Problem: racism and homophobia
Status: stood down
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
Lib Dem, Thurrock
Problem: racism and homophobia
Status: stood down
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
13. Chris Davies
Tory, Ynys Mon
Problem: recall petition when MP for Brecon & Radnorshire, lost by election, still stood in Ynys Mon
Status: finally stood down
msn.com/en-gb/news/ukn…
Tory, Ynys Mon
Problem: recall petition when MP for Brecon & Radnorshire, lost by election, still stood in Ynys Mon
Status: finally stood down
msn.com/en-gb/news/ukn…
14. Andrew Griffiths
Tory, Burton
Problem: sexting women
Status: ousted by his estranged wife Kate Griffiths
bbc.com/news/av/uk-eng…
Tory, Burton
Problem: sexting women
Status: ousted by his estranged wife Kate Griffiths
bbc.com/news/av/uk-eng…
Is this especially serious this time? Wdyt @ProfTimBale @gsoh31 @robfordmancs?
Scandals I’m missing? Please do reply here notifying me of them...
/ends
Scandals I’m missing? Please do reply here notifying me of them...
/ends
@ProfTimBale @gsoh31 @robfordmancs 15. Ryan Houghton
Tory, Aberdeen North
Problem: anti semitism, sexism
Status: discovered too late to withdraw him as a candidate, but Tories will not back him
thenational.scot/news/18044656.…
Tory, Aberdeen North
Problem: anti semitism, sexism
Status: discovered too late to withdraw him as a candidate, but Tories will not back him
thenational.scot/news/18044656.…
16. Claudia Webbe
Labour, Leicester East
Problem: defended Livingstone's anti semitism, prompted local party chairman to resign
Status: still the candidate (to replace Keith Vaz, and we know what happened to him!)
bbc.com/news/election-…
Labour, Leicester East
Problem: defended Livingstone's anti semitism, prompted local party chairman to resign
Status: still the candidate (to replace Keith Vaz, and we know what happened to him!)
bbc.com/news/election-…
18. Victor Robert Farrell
Brexit Party, Glenrothes
Problem: homophobia
Status: still standing, but Brexit Party is now not supporting him
scotsman.com/news/politics/…
Brexit Party, Glenrothes
Problem: homophobia
Status: still standing, but Brexit Party is now not supporting him
scotsman.com/news/politics/…
19. Francesca O'Brien
Tory, Gower
Problem: thinks people on TV show Benefits Street need "putting down"
Status: Tories standing by her
bbc.com/news/uk-wales-…
Tory, Gower
Problem: thinks people on TV show Benefits Street need "putting down"
Status: Tories standing by her
bbc.com/news/uk-wales-…
20. Frances Hoole
Labour, Edinburgh South West
Problem: posted photoshopped pic of rival with slogan “Bang! And the terf is gone”
Status: removed as a candidate by Labour
scotsman.com/news/politics/…
Labour, Edinburgh South West
Problem: posted photoshopped pic of rival with slogan “Bang! And the terf is gone”
Status: removed as a candidate by Labour
scotsman.com/news/politics/…
21. Zarah Sultana
Labour, Coventry South
Problem: anti semitic comments
Status: has part apologised, continues to be the candidate
thejc.com/news/uk-news/l…
Labour, Coventry South
Problem: anti semitic comments
Status: has part apologised, continues to be the candidate
thejc.com/news/uk-news/l…
(and hell - I knew of a dozen or so cases - but these keep on coming in...)
22. Apsana Begum
Labour, Poplar & Limehouse
Problem: references to "Zionist masters", and police called to selection meeting
Status: is still the candidate
thejc.com/news/uk-news/a…
Labour, Poplar & Limehouse
Problem: references to "Zionist masters", and police called to selection meeting
Status: is still the candidate
thejc.com/news/uk-news/a…
23. Wahid Rafiq
Lib Dem, Birmingham Hodge Hill
Problem: anti semitism
Status: still a candidate
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/li…
Lib Dem, Birmingham Hodge Hill
Problem: anti semitism
Status: still a candidate
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/li…
24. Marc Stanton
Brexit Party, West Lancashire
Problem: anti semitism, anti muslim, sexist
Status: still the candidate as far as I can tell
liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool…
Brexit Party, West Lancashire
Problem: anti semitism, anti muslim, sexist
Status: still the candidate as far as I can tell
liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool…
25. Natalie Neale
Tory, Leicester South
Problem: features in Tory manifesto despite being suspended as a midwife, allegations of professional misconduct
Status: still a candidate
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
Tory, Leicester South
Problem: features in Tory manifesto despite being suspended as a midwife, allegations of professional misconduct
Status: still a candidate
theguardian.com/politics/2019/…
Also please note: this documents the status at the time the tweet was added, and the thread has been going for more than a week! By all means tweet me what has changed subsequently...
