Jack Straw’s son hopes to become MP for Rossendale and Darwen (From Blackburn Citizen)

Wow, another Oxford PPE student who's never worked in the real world. He'll fit right in in Westminster.

Well,well, well - what a surprise...not. Another prospective Labour Party MP with little or no connection or practical understanding of the people he will be representing and, yes, another from the rarified world of Oxbridge seeking wealth and privilege on the backs of this area. How will the Labour Party ever regain its soul and sense of its real purpose when this trend continues? I have become totally disollusioned with the political system seeing it as a completely cynical exercise to promote self instead of the best interests of society.

Geees, another Man of Straw. I don't know which is worse ? Another Straw or Jones The Dream ! Not to worry East Lancs will have imploaded well before 2015 !!!!

he has the support of former mp janet andrson ... well thats his political chances in darwen stuffed jane is about as popular locally as adolf hitler was offering free train rides in poland

Noiticer wrote:
Well,well, well - what a surprise...not. Another prospective Labour Party MP with little or no connection or practical understanding of the people he will be representing and, yes, another from the rarified world of Oxbridge seeking wealth and privilege on the backs of this area. How will the Labour Party ever regain its soul and sense of its real purpose when this trend continues? I have become totally disollusioned with the political system seeing it as a completely cynical exercise to promote self instead of the best interests of society.

Bang on with the comments. I suppose it is wrong to judge someone before he has chance to prove himself but we have been duped, conned and lied to by far too many of these MPs, whose only interest is "what's init for me" attitude, it was J F Kennedy (quote) who said "It's not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country" this applies equally to this country and the lazy, lying and double standard Governments elected to represent us, yet they never do.

So some drug selling son of a useless MP, wants to become another parasite in Westminster because his father has told him about the easy money and shovelled him into the list jeez.He even throws in that he is a jibbs fan lol hoping it will get him some votes hahahahaha.
Problem is the Labour party will accept the brown envelopes and vote him in .

Was he born and bred with the towns walls?

“I know East Lancashire very well, spending a lot of time there with my father as I grew up. I am a Blackburn Rovers fan." Hmmmm...I guess that's all that is required to qualify as an MP these days.

Another one looking for a soft job with a big salary, golden pension and telephone number expenses.

Another one looking for a soft job with a big salary, golden pension and telephone number expenses.

Caspar the ghost wrote:
He must have a criminal record for his cannabis episode...so how can he be selected as a potential MP. I suppose it's nothing to do with nepotism?

Cannabis:Thats nowt when you have got child rapists murderers and criminally driven Banksters running the world..Place had gone to pot long before Jacks clone came snivling along. The frightening thing here is the fact that todays policians are educating their own children to run our future affairs as with this example Will Straw was born in south London and educated at Pimlico Comprehensive School. He gained a 2:1 degree in politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford where he was president of the Student Union before working in the Treasury department for four years.

He took a masters degree in public administration as a Fulbright Scholar at New York’s Columbia University and took on a role in a Democrat think tank before running back to the UK then launched Left Foot Forward, a popular left-wing blog..paid for by his hard working father who has done so much for the borough and shaped it in to the place it has become today. "And you can put your own name for it on a postcard" Does Jacks son with his experience in American affairs represent and understand the needs of a family growing up on a shoe string in east Lancashire..? Politics need to get back to the roots and get rid of these spivs telling the needy what they can have and when they can have it. We need people running our affairs that have experienced life. Not a convicted spiv coming out of a fancy American university...

Jacks been telling him since birth what a good screw all this MP stuff is, you don't need to find a job, just become an MP and start freeloading, fill yer pockets and then pass it on to the next generation. Chin Chin.

Reminds me of Camden natives Ed & David Miliband - MPs for Doncaster & South Shields respectively, no doubt Doncaster/Newcastle fans.
If they were to lose their seats, I'm sure they'd still regularly visit (not).

Try the mugs in Blackburn. They've been voting for your dad for decades.

To be fair to the lad, he has more idea of the local issues than someone parachuted in from London who gets lost North of Watford Gap. The accusation of nepotism doesn't stand because he is seeking the support of a neighbouring constituency and not his Fathers. They will test his core beliefs and look for any weaknesses to exploit so as to exclude him. He will get a rougher grilling than any of the others, I suspect.
The cannabis case was dealt with as many were in that day, by a simple caution, which doesn't mean a conviction. To be ineligible for selection he would have had to have served more that 6 months in jail, I think, maybe longer. His Dad, the former Justice Secretary could help on the legality of this.
The comment that it was a sting operation, where he was deliberately targeted by a national newspaper, that has of late been exposed for it's dubious journalistic methods, in some small measure, goes towards mitigating what took place.
It will serve as a salutary lesson to him in the future. It's going to be some time before they fool this puppy again.
I urge anyone who thinks that they are getting a clone of the Father to attend any of the meeting where he speaks and then question him for yourself, rather than snipe from these columns. There is nothing like being in the lion's den to prove the mettle of a candidate and often you end up liking the man, just for not being his Father's son and being a valid candidate in his own right.
Jack's legal training gave him the craft of oratory but the son has not been down that road, so could fluff and stumble a bit under questioning.
The hustings is an integral part of the test of seeking to be elected, where the people put him to the test in a trial by ordeal. And rightly so.

Me, I'm voting Liberal again, as ever.
Two quotes from Henry VII spring to mind here..
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me; I had it from my father... And, be just and fear not.
Good luck, Will.

Another looking to get on the gravy train of politics !Never had a proper job in his life and never will !What a joke .

Just what does he know or have experience of life in East Lancs ? Answer zero ,zilch,nada, nothing !

Blackburn has been voting Labour since the last war, and look at the place it has become. Jack Straw makes all the right noises, purports to support Blackburn Rovers , pops up for the odd visit to be seen about the place and then scurries back to London, his natural home. The North of England is an increasingly poor and deprived part of the UK and East Lancashire is amongst the worst affected . If politicians actually had to live in the areas that they allegedly serve then more public works projects and more money would perhaps find its way north of the Watford Gap, rather than the unrelenting focus on London and the South where MP's actually live. Residence should be a pre-condition of election.

Once again it seems that money and power has it's favourites. What I would like to know is how could this sale of cannabis be a sting operation? As far as I can see a man offered money in exchange for drugs and received them. A caution was accepted and therefore guilt was acknowledged.

Current Tory MP Jake Berry said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if the local Labour Party were forced to select a candidate “parachuted” in from London.''
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Oh dear Mr Berry ! Here's a Scouser pontificating on the local Labour Party which, of course, he hasn't a clue about.
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For his information the local Labour Party can pick who they want to be a candidate and are not forced to by anyone.

he was sacked as a governor of a London school.poor financial management and poor teaching.

he was don for selling drugs

"cautioned for selling cannabis to a Daily Mirror reporter in 1997 in a tabloid sting. “When I was cautioned, I was set up and only 17,” he said. “I do not support the legalisation of cannabis.”

Not an excuse Straw Jnr,,,, when I was 17 I was serving in the British Army getting ready for a tour of duty,,,,, young is no excuse..set up you say,
sorry straw jnr, I missed that bit! you should name the paper which printed an apology for the "set up" ....you did take legal action and get the caution overturned! Didn't you?

"I know East Lancashire very well, spending a lot of time there with my father as I grew up. I am a Blackburn Rovers fan."

Watching your Dad on a soap box outside of M&S on a Saturday morning does not count..... neither does a free ticket in the box at "the Rovers"

"Will Straw was born in south London and educated at Pimlico Comprehensive School"

Oh dear,, the Southern Tory voters won' give you a chance! Neither will we.

Jog on and take your Dad with you... Enough damage has been done in this once Great town......

RUinsane wrote:
Jacks been telling him since birth what a good screw all this MP stuff is, you don't need to find a job, just become an MP and start freeloading, fill yer pockets and then pass it on to the next generation. Chin Chin.

Errrr.. ANYONE on the electoral register can stand for election (with a few exceptions like serious criminals / bankrupts).
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Even you could stand RU insane !
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If being an MP is such a 'good screw' why don't hundreds of people, nay thousands, put themselves forward ???
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I look forward to all the cynics above standing as candidates in the next General Election.
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Or maybe they would rather be Headteachers / Doctors / Lawyers / etc as all of these receive much higher pay then MP's.

Omg not another one he even looks like his dad god help us

Info-warrior wrote:

Caspar the ghost wrote:
He must have a criminal record for his cannabis episode...so how can he be selected as a potential MP. I suppose it's nothing to do with nepotism?

Cannabis:Thats nowt when you have got child rapists murderers and criminally driven Banksters running the world..Place had gone to pot long before Jacks clone came snivling along. The frightening thing here is the fact that todays policians are educating their own children to run our future affairs as with this example Will Straw was born in south London and educated at Pimlico Comprehensive School. He gained a 2:1 degree in politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford where he was president of the Student Union before working in the Treasury department for four years.

He took a masters degree in public administration as a Fulbright Scholar at New York’s Columbia University and took on a role in a Democrat think tank before running back to the UK then launched Left Foot Forward, a popular left-wing blog..paid for by his hard working father who has done so much for the borough and shaped it in to the place it has become today. "And you can put your own name for it on a postcard" Does Jacks son with his experience in American affairs represent and understand the needs of a family growing up on a shoe string in east Lancashire..? Politics need to get back to the roots and get rid of these spivs telling the needy what they can have and when they can have it. We need people running our affairs that have experienced life. Not a convicted spiv coming out of a fancy American university...

"He gained a 2:1 degree in politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford "

"He took a masters degree in public administration "

All good qualifications for living off the fat of the land. Although I'm sure he can wipe his own backside! (with his dads help!)

english rose 1 wrote:

RUinsane wrote:
Jacks been telling him since birth what a good screw all this MP stuff is, you don't need to find a job, just become an MP and start freeloading, fill yer pockets and then pass it on to the next generation. Chin Chin.

Errrr.. ANYONE on the electoral register can stand for election (with a few exceptions like serious criminals / bankrupts).
*
Even you could stand RU insane !
*
If being an MP is such a 'good screw' why don't hundreds of people, nay thousands, put themselves forward ???
*
I look forward to all the cynics above standing as candidates in the next General Election.
*
Or maybe they would rather be Headteachers / Doctors / Lawyers / etc as all of these receive much higher pay then MP's.

The New Labour Party loved the extremely wealthy Tony Blair and his children are still there running it. So why not cuddle up to someone who has a history of drug dealing and whose father helped Tony Blair make wars abroad causing the continuing untold misery and death because of it?

But what a mess Blackburn has become. Only those frightened to acknowledge New Labours failures now carry their banner. What we need is a credible and totally refreshed Labour Party. Alas, people still think they still have one due to the areas historical fears!

Politics is now untrustworthy thanks to the conduct of the last New Labour Party. There is no credible opposition if your working class any more. Who would ever want to have anything to do with any of them?

Jack Straw retired in London on casual visits to Blackburn whilst little straw is wanting to be MP in Darwen awaiting to take over the family business in Blackburn. There really should be a law against such foolishness!

Please God No!

Deus Vobiscum

Another weasel to pee in the political labour pot !!!

Well the condemns have been so bad that I was all ready to vote labour as in all seriousness nobody could possibly be worse than the toad Berry.

Then I read about this ar5e!

Who do I vote for now???

Somebody dig up Lord Sutch!!

Will spend commons sessions bonged out of his skull on skunk weed, hittin it large wiv da pipe hittin muvvas, innit.

Paul The Octopus Lives! wrote:
Well the condemns have been so bad that I was all ready to vote labour as in all seriousness nobody could possibly be worse than the toad Berry.

Then I read about this ar5e!

Who do I vote for now???

Somebody dig up Lord Sutch!!

You have absolutely no idea who the Labour candidate for Rossendale & Darwen will be as the selection process has not even started yet.
*
You can influence that selection by joining the Labour Party for £15. You will then get a vote in the selection.
*
If Will Straw is amongst the hopefuls you can then vote for someone else if you think they are a better candidate.
*
Simple really.

Is there nobody local fit to represent us ?

english rose 1 wrote:

Paul The Octopus Lives! wrote:
Well the condemns have been so bad that I was all ready to vote labour as in all seriousness nobody could possibly be worse than the toad Berry.

Then I read about this ar5e!

Who do I vote for now???

Somebody dig up Lord Sutch!!

You have absolutely no idea who the Labour candidate for Rossendale & Darwen will be as the selection process has not even started yet.
*
You can influence that selection by joining the Labour Party for £15. You will then get a vote in the selection.
*
If Will Straw is amongst the hopefuls you can then vote for someone else if you think they are a better candidate.
*
Simple really.

Really?

Then why does the current Darwen MP say: “I wouldn’t be surprised if the local Labour Party were forced to select a candidate “parachuted” in from London."

Everyone knows it's all about support from above. If those on high say yes, then lo and behold these outsiders always get selected as a candidate. Look at Kitty Usher. Look at Tony Blair. Look at Jack Straw.

We need these people in power like we need a hole in the head though.

A huge problem in this country is career politicians, with no experience of life, just knowledge of a cushy and easy job. Their own interests, or those of their cronies, always comes before the needs of the public.

People like Will Straw are the epitome of our rotten political system; thinking that they have a right to lead us just because they've taken the right course at Oxford. Will Straw is about as suitable to represent Darwen as it's MP as George Bush.

People want real candidates with real experience of life, who want to serve the people, not milk them. Self serving poodles like Will Straw clearly aren't welcome any more therefore.

english rose 1 wrote:

Paul The Octopus Lives! wrote:
Well the condemns have been so bad that I was all ready to vote labour as in all seriousness nobody could possibly be worse than the toad Berry.

Then I read about this ar5e!

Who do I vote for now???

Somebody dig up Lord Sutch!!

You have absolutely no idea who the Labour candidate for Rossendale & Darwen will be as the selection process has not even started yet.
*
You can influence that selection by joining the Labour Party for £15. You will then get a vote in the selection.
*
If Will Straw is amongst the hopefuls you can then vote for someone else if you think they are a better candidate.
*
Simple really.

"You can influence that selection by joining the Labour Party for £15. You will then get a vote in the selection."

Who in their right mind would want to waste £15 to have to join the 'NEW' labour party to vote?

english rose 1 wrote:

Paul The Octopus Lives! wrote:
Well the condemns have been so bad that I was all ready to vote labour as in all seriousness nobody could possibly be worse than the toad Berry.

Then I read about this ar5e!

Who do I vote for now???

Somebody dig up Lord Sutch!!

You have absolutely no idea who the Labour candidate for Rossendale & Darwen will be as the selection process has not even started yet.
*
You can influence that selection by joining the Labour Party for £15. You will then get a vote in the selection.
*
If Will Straw is amongst the hopefuls you can then vote for someone else if you think they are a better candidate.
*
Simple really.

People's cynicism is understandable, celebrities or friends/relatives of party grandees being parachuted in over the heads of local parties is hardly unknown - from any of the major parties.
Luciana Berger, both the Milibands, Gloria Del Piero spring to mind from Labour.

disgusted tunbridge wells wrote:
Is there nobody local fit to represent us ?

There are plenty fit to represent us through the Labour Party. As English Rose quite rightly points out, the selection process has not even been discussed because the Ward Boundaries may still change.
Quite why Mr Straw has chosen now to publicise his desire to represent the ward is unclear.
Any Labour Member can throw their hat into the ring. I could think of half a dozen people who would make a great MP for Darwen and Rossendale, and I'm sure that Rossendale Labour party could find half a dozen more.
If Mr Straw fails to be selected he will have been judged on his ability, against the ability of other candidates. That is the democratic selection process within the Labour Movement.
The important thing is to have the right person to challenge Jake Berry on the negative impact of Conservative policy on the people of Darwen. If anyone is ignorant of the effect of over £50m cuts in the council budget, without a plan to fill the gap with private investment, then Jake is the guy.
He has had it far too easy for far too long while the government has deliberately stalled the boundary changes to make candidate selection impossible.
If Will is the best candidate, he will be selected. If he isn't he won't.

louderfasterlonger wrote:

disgusted tunbridge wells wrote:
Is there nobody local fit to represent us ?

There are plenty fit to represent us through the Labour Party. As English Rose quite rightly points out, the selection process has not even been discussed because the Ward Boundaries may still change.
Quite why Mr Straw has chosen now to publicise his desire to represent the ward is unclear.
Any Labour Member can throw their hat into the ring. I could think of half a dozen people who would make a great MP for Darwen and Rossendale, and I'm sure that Rossendale Labour party could find half a dozen more.
If Mr Straw fails to be selected he will have been judged on his ability, against the ability of other candidates. That is the democratic selection process within the Labour Movement.
The important thing is to have the right person to challenge Jake Berry on the negative impact of Conservative policy on the people of Darwen. If anyone is ignorant of the effect of over £50m cuts in the council budget, without a plan to fill the gap with private investment, then Jake is the guy.
He has had it far too easy for far too long while the government has deliberately stalled the boundary changes to make candidate selection impossible.
If Will is the best candidate, he will be selected. If he isn't he won't.

So if Labour had won the last election, they wouldn't have made cuts, they'd have carried on spending instead? That's the gist of what you are saying.

In which case, considering Labour's eye watering wastage levels, do you think we'd have beaten Greece to the brink of bankruptcy?

More than likely eh.

Do you honestly think unsustainable spending like Greece should have been our continued economic model to get us out of this mess? The Greeks, and the rest of the world for that matter, wouldn't agree with you.