Applications from potential candidates

[Andy_R]

Today, we are formally starting our candidate selection process. If you are interested in becoming a Pirate Parliamentary Candidate, please post in this thread, with a brief CV, and an indication of which constituency or constituencies you would consider standing in.

The full process for candidate selection will be announced when we have a better idea of how many potential candidates we have.

[AndrewTindall]

what about people who want to stand in local elections under our name? (not that this applies to me this time around)

[cabalamat]

I'd like to stand as a parliamentary candidate in an Edinburgh seat.

Very brief CV:

I've been involved in digital rights activism for about 10 years. I helped set up the Campaign for Digital Rights, was a founder-member of the Open Rights Group, and since July this year have been the Pirate Party's Campaigns Officer. I've blogged about digital rights issues since 2003. I was involved in the campaign against software patents in the EU in the mid 2000's.

My professional background as a programmer is what originally led me into digital rights activism. In particular, I use and write open source software and am well aware of threats to it from software patents and the anti-circumvention provisions of the WIPO Treaty. I find that having a good understanding of the underlying technologies involved in computing and the internet has been invaluable in understanding the political, economic and social consequences of those technologies.

[cabalamat]

It might also be useful to consider constituencies we might want to target. Targetting ministers responsible for disconnecting file sharers is an obvious idea. Lord Mandelson isn't an MP so we can't stand against him. But we can stand against these people:

Department of Culture, Media and Sport

Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of State, Exeter, 13.9%
Sion Simon, Creative Industries, Birmingham, 30.2%

Department of Business, Innovation and Skills

Pat McFadden, Minister of State, Wolverhapton, 37.1%
Stephen Timms, Digital Britain, East Ham, 33.2%
David Lammy, Higher Education and Intellectual Property, Tottenham, 41.2%

Of these people, Bradshaw has the lowest majority by far

[JohnB]

It might also be useful to consider constituencies we might want to target. Targetting ministers responsible for disconnecting file sharers is an obvious idea. Lord Mandelson isn't an MP so we can't stand against him. But we can stand against these people:

Department of Culture, Media and Sport

Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of State, Exeter, 13.9%

Of these people, Bradshaw has the lowest majority by far

Exeter sounds like an interesting prospect, my father lives not so far from there, and to have an existing MP like that to stand against, with not that great a majority to defend... And a major city, I can see possibilities for Exeter...

Do we have any organisation already in the city/surrounds, and potential candidates who could stand? Would be very good to hear from you if so. If so it has potential, I'm only in that area now and then, but if we have some pirates around there, to organise events and campaigning, and a good candidate for them to rally behind, would be very nice to see a Pirate standing for election in Exeter.

[guyincognito]

I'm happy to stand or help in Leicester. I'm in the West end area... I've no experience or anything but I can send up a cv if the party is interested...

[cabalamat]

I'm happy to stand or help in Leicester. I'm in the West end area... I've no experience or anything but I can send up a cv if the party is interested...

Please do so; let us know why you'd be a good candidate.

[glambert]

Worst case scenario is a no I guess? I encourage anyone who's anyone to put their name in the hat, that way we are bound to get the best candidates.

I'm 18 so I'm only young myself, but I have done a lot over the last few years online creating petitions for various things ranging from drug classification to keeping schools open. My own high school was up for closure and I campaigned and campaigned, spoke at various council meetings and appeared in local newspapers for it. The council was left divided on the issue when put to a vote and the school remained open. Basicly, I'm no stranger to politics - albeit on a local basis.

I am a strong believer in freedom of information, freedom of speech and freedom to do what one wants to do within the boundaries of the law. However, I believe that a number of laws have too many loopholes and some are to strong for what they're worth. There needs to be a balance. File sharers get broadband cut off and a fine and possibly jail if found to be making money from it, and yet murderers get 10 years in jail on "good behaviour"? The British law needs changing in so many ways it's unbelievable.

I run a small business myself as a sole trader programming and developing for the open source community.

If unsuccessful I would certainly like to get involved in other areas as I feel strongly about what the party wants to achieve.

EDIT: The reason I believe we should go with younger candidates is because I think the majority of PPUK voters will be young themselves.
EDIT2: The area I would like to run in is Bury, Lancashire. The council was left without a ruling party in a vote within the last few years so the town may be looking for a change...

[Glen]

Dulwich & West Norwood
Currently held by Tessa Jowell

CV
My 31 and a married home owner with no dodgy past.
I worked as a NUS treasurer for four years. I'm a regular volunteer at hacker conferences in Europe. I've worked as a teacher, I can talk easily to people.

I work from home as a Linux sysadmin for a development/hosting company with a few government contracts. I have a great understanding of the technology behind copyright debates.

[Gavman]

I'm living in Wimbledon which is a very Conservative area so I am not putting myself forward to run for any seat yet however I just felt I needed to post to urge people to put themselves forward in locals that we could genuinely make an impact because we cant do anything if we dont have candidates to run anywhere.

In fact despite the up-hill battle I would face, i would be prepared to put in the effort to mount a campaign in my local area IF we get enough other candidates to run across the country. (and of course provided we get enough candidates I will repost with a summary and cv)

[Sharkz]

I would like to stand in Derby. I realise I haven't been as active in the PPUK as I previously have but I'm trying to turn that around. I'm currently a college student who lives in Derby. I'm 18 and I realise this might be quite young. I strongly support the PPUK policies and really hope that we can raise awareness about our issues and grow as a party. I wasn't involved in politics until the PPUK came about and was an early forum member.

I don't have any sort of bad background that could come back and haunt me and I do my best to be responsible and mature in most situations. I'm friendly but not very serious. I admit I'm not amazingly 'qualified' and maybe not right for the position but I only want to do my best for the PPUK. I'm not even a prolific pirate. In the past I used to do it occasionally but now I find myself using alternatives like Spotify and I also buy a lot of media products (mainly games) so I'm probably not much of a 'pirate' in comparison to some other members but I do fully support the three core policies.

I have a lot of ideas racing around my head for campaigns and how to raise awareness about the PPUK and would use my chance as a candidate to do them and have a good understanding of what the PPUK stands for. I enjoy working with people and when I get properly involved in something I am very active. I work part time at the Co-op on Sat-Sun and do 3 days a week for college but other than that I have no other commitments. I finish college this year and have no intention of going to University but I may be moving to Sheffield so while I'll have more time on my hands I will be in a different area so if that has any effect on this I'm throwing it out now so it doesn't come out later when it could disrupt the party if I were to be selected.

Thank you for any time spent reading this and I hope you consider me to be a good candidate. Sorry if there is any irrelevant information there.

[JPrescott]

I would like to stand or support anyone running in the lancashire/merseyside area. A lot of my time will hopefully be taken up by becoming the deputy treasurer so will be fully behind anyone who wants to stand...

http://www.pirateparty.org.uk/vote/

[robriley]

Hello,

I'd be happy to stand in Nottingham. We have 2 big Universities here and many unhappy voters.

I am 24, a landlord and this year I started a politics degree as a mature student with the OU.

[AndrewTindall]

i'd just like to point out a potential issue with university constituencies - many, if not most, students, stay registered to their home address during their time at university, rather than changing across on the electoral register. although this may be offset by students who lived in that area to begin with, for example in southampton.

[denny]

I keep telling myself that I don't have the time to put into running for Parliament, but then I haven't stopped thinking about it yet, so clearly I'm not listening to myself.

It would be useful (and possibly attract more potential candidates) to have some details/links here about what is involved in being a candidate - what sort of time can you realistically expect to have to sink into it (at the start and at the end of your campaign), how much might it cost (and how much might the party be able to help with that), etc etc.

Personally I probably wouldn't want to run against my local LibDem candidate (Dave Raval, Hackney South), as I'm quite looking forward to voting for him, but I'd be tempted by the constituency next door (Islington South). The vote was very closely split between Labour and LibDem there in 2005 - not sure whether that's a reason for or against running there - we share some goals with the LibDems, so on the one hand it'd be a shame to split their vote, but on the other hand, a good LibDem turnout in the past probably indicates a general sympathy for liberal causes such as ours.

[PeterBrett]

i'd just like to point out a potential issue with university constituencies - many, if not most, students, stay registered to their home address during their time at university, rather than changing across on the electoral register. although this may be offset by students who lived in that area to begin with, for example in southampton.

While I was studying at the University of Cambridge, all students in residence were automatically placed on the Cambridgeshire electoral rolls. Given that I spent a larger proportion of the year living in Cambridge than at my parents' home, that seems to be the "correct" thing to do.

[scuzzmonkey]

i'd just like to point out a potential issue with university constituencies - many, if not most, students, stay registered to their home address during their time at university, rather than changing across on the electoral register. although this may be offset by students who lived in that area to begin with, for example in southampton.

While I was studying at the University of Cambridge, all students in residence were automatically placed on the Cambridgeshire electoral rolls. Given that I spent a larger proportion of the year living in Cambridge than at my parents' home, that seems to be the "correct" thing to do.

indeed, same with me at Newcastle.

[PeterBrett]

I'm currently a college student who lives in Derby. I'm 18 and I realise this might be quite young.

This is going to be a problem, frankly. I fear that you would have a big struggle against being dismissed by the electorate as a "young upstart who doesn't understand how the Real World works." How are you going to deal with that?

Don't forget that, as a candidate, you'll need to have an answer to every policy issue, even if not germane to PPUK's core policies. How much background have you got in public speaking? Have you ever given a presentation on a very controversial issue in front of several hundred complete strangers?

Just a few things to think about before you start gathering up the thousands of pounds required to prosecute a general election campaign...

(I address this to sharkz, but all those putting themselves forward as candidates should consider these points).

[dnotice]

I've mentioned in other threads that I'd be interested, but as this is the thread I'll add my details to this as well...

Originally I was planning to stand as an independent MP in Bethnal Green & Bow in east London, but then I joined PPUK and have been meeting with the Twickenham lot.

Click on my They Want To Work For You page (listed below) for more details.

[jason]

I would like to stand for Portsmouth.

Small Bio:
I have lived between Portsmouth & Gosport my entire life and currently live in Portsmouth where I own my own home and work locally for a large company as a SharePoint know-it-all. Since I was 16 I have worked as a freelance web designer and the internet has always been a big part of my life. I have no problems with public speaking and presentations as I do it all the time in my job.

I follow politics but never dive too deep into it, however for the purpose of standing for the PPUK I would. I'm a fast learner and soak up knowledge and I always invest time into what I'm doing. I don't feel nervous about going up against seasoned MP's or candidates because at the end of the day even if we don't win at least more people have heard of PPUK.

It would be useful (and possibly attract more potential candidates) to have some details/links here about what is involved in being a candidate - what sort of time can you realistically expect to have to sink into it (at the start and at the end of your campaign), how much might it cost (and how much might the party be able to help with that), etc etc.

I agree with denny though, some links and more info on what it means to stand is more reassuring