Jack Straw’s son hopes to become MP for Rossendale and Darwen (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Jack Straw’s son hopes to become MP for Rossendale and Darwen
1:37pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in News
Exclusive By Bill Jacobs, Local government reporter
POLITICAL AMBITIONS Will Straw hopes to become the Rossendale and Darwen candidate
BLACKBURN MP Jack Straw ’s son Will is seeking to follow his dad into Parliament as MP for Rossendale and Darwen.
The 31-year-old told the Lancashire Telegraph he had thrown his hat in the ring to become the Labour candidate for the marginal seat in May 2015.
Will Straw is canvassing support in Rossendale and Darwen for becoming candidate when Labour starts selecting later this year.
He already has support from former Labour MP Janet Anderson but current Tory MP Jake Berry said local people would object to a candidate ‘parachuted’ in by London Labour.
Mr Straw, associate director of Labour-leaning think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, said: “The final selection is a matter for the local party but fighting, and hopefully winning, the seat for Labour and representing it in Parliament would be a satisfying and rewarding challenge.
“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.
“I am talking to people in the constituency party to see if I am the right candidate for a seat suffering greatly under this government. Representing it in Parliament would be a really serious job. The main issues are investment and jobs.
In 1997 Mr Straw was 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.” He faces several hurdles including calls for an all-women shortlist and his brush with the drugs laws.
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.
“I’m not interested in who Labour select, my number one priority is to continue to be a strong local voice, fighting to secure a better deal for everyone living in Rossendale and Darwen.”
Mrs Anderson said: “Will is a very able and bright young man who would make an excellent choice of Labour candidate for the people of the constituency.”
Former Darwen councillor turned Rochdale Labour MP Simon Danczuk said: “Will would be a fantastic candidate and MP.”
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 returning to the UK where launched Left Foot Forward, a popular left-wing blog.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (36)
2:10pm Thu 20 Sep 12
wtloild says...
2:27pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Noiticer says...
2:48pm Thu 20 Sep 12
accy lad and proud says...
2:55pm Thu 20 Sep 12
guinless says...
3:07pm Thu 20 Sep 12
alf-abett says...
3:13pm Thu 20 Sep 12
jellybiff says...
Problem is the Labour party will accept the brown envelopes and vote him in .
3:19pm Thu 20 Sep 12
makaveli96 says...
3:20pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Yankee Clipper says...
3:38pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Izanears says...
3:39pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Izanears says...
3:52pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Info-warrior says...
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...
3:58pm Thu 20 Sep 12
RUinsane says...
4:35pm Thu 20 Sep 12
wtloild says...
If they were to lose their seats, I'm sure they'd still regularly visit (not).
4:48pm Thu 20 Sep 12
happycyclist says...
5:18pm Thu 20 Sep 12
woolywords says...
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.
5:36pm Thu 20 Sep 12
peely says...
Just what does he know or have experience of life in East Lancs ? Answer zero ,zilch,nada, nothing !
5:48pm Thu 20 Sep 12
oldblue says...
6:25pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Malthus says...
7:15pm Thu 20 Sep 12
english rose 1 says...
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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.
7:22pm Thu 20 Sep 12
iceman123 says...
he was don for selling drugs
7:31pm Thu 20 Sep 12
logie28 says...
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......
7:32pm Thu 20 Sep 12
english rose 1 says...
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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.
7:42pm Thu 20 Sep 12
willerby says...
8:55pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Caspar the ghost says...
"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!)
9:54pm Thu 20 Sep 12
district01 says...
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!
10:03pm Thu 20 Sep 12
DEO VOLENTE says...
Deus Vobiscum
11:19pm Thu 20 Sep 12
goz says...
11:28pm Thu 20 Sep 12
Paul The Octopus Lives! says...
Then I read about this ar5e!
Who do I vote for now???
Somebody dig up Lord Sutch!!
12:06am Fri 21 Sep 12
RUinsane says...
1:17am Fri 21 Sep 12
english rose 1 says...
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You can influence that selection by joining the Labour Party for £15. You will then get a vote in the selection.
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If Will Straw is amongst the hopefuls you can then vote for someone else if you think they are a better candidate.
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Simple really.
9:02am Fri 21 Sep 12
disgusted tunbridge wells says...
10:31am Fri 21 Sep 12
Jack Herer says...
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.
11:43am Fri 21 Sep 12
district01 says...
Who in their right mind would want to waste £15 to have to join the 'NEW' labour party to vote?
3:37pm Fri 21 Sep 12
wtloild says...
Luciana Berger, both the Milibands, Gloria Del Piero spring to mind from Labour.
4:10pm Fri 21 Sep 12
louderfasterlonger says...
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.
5:22pm Fri 21 Sep 12
Jack Herer says...
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.