Sunday, May 04, 2008

What's in a name?

Looks like the Crewe and Nantwich Constituency Labour Party hasn't gone with my original suggestion for a candidate to replace the late Gwynneth Dunwoody at what will be an incredibly difficult by-election for them. Shame that, as it was probably their best chance of retaining the seat.

Of course, what with Tamsin Dunwoody being born in Devon, educated in both London and Kent, and someone whose working life has been spent primarily in London and Wales, she's obviously the best placed local candidate for the Labour Party in the North West.

I'm sure that the matter of the selected candidate's surname didn't even come up during the selection process. The realisation of the winning candidate's surname just happened to be a fortuitous added bonus for the local PLP after their decision was made. They do say that fortune favours the politically brave.

Don't let it be said that this blog exhibits any cynicism towards political dynasties. Why shouldn't the offspring of political grandees be allowed to go into the family business? It is one of the more lucrative of business options in a time of recession, after all, and if an electorate are willing to give extra weight to an individual's candidature simply because of their surname, then maybe they get the politicians that they deserve.

I only wish more scions of the political class took the Oliver Baldwin route when following in the parental footsteps. That bloke had a chutzpah that's lost on today's motley Krew of Kareerist Kidz.

No comments: