The Power and the Glory

So you'd like to rule the world?

Put that another way - So you're determined to use the political process of this country to ensure that the people are fairly represented, well governed, everything runs as smoothly as possible and things just keep getting better? Whatever your motivation, how on earth do you get into politics?

Hurdle 1: Let's start at the very beginning
You will have to be a British Citizen and 21 and not a civil servant or judge etc.

And you also need to have shown how enthusiastic you are about politics generally. Most members of parliament are elected to represent their constituency as a member of a political party, Labour, Conservative, Monster Raving Looney…But you could stand independently, you would just have to stump up the £500 to stand on your own!

So a good starting point is to work out what your politics are and then join the appropriate party (here are the websites of the Big 3 for starters):-

Labour - http://www.labour.org.uk
Conservative - http://www.conservatives.com
Liberal Democrats - http://www.libdems.org.uk

Hurdle 2: Now get involved
Get campaigning, work for candidates in local elections, attend social and political events, make friends -a very important part of political life! You might think about a career that will teach you more about politics whilst you are building up your experience to enable you to stand for your party. Ideas include law, economics, business or trade union work. You could also become a political researcher.

Political Researcher
You'll usually need a degree and some work experience to get into one of these roles - but your work for the party should have that in the bag! You'll be advising and supporting the policy makers and campaign staff with up to date information, contributing to speeches, writing briefs and policy papers. If your party is ruling the country you'll get civil servants to help - if not tough!

Hurdle 3: Successful candidate
Once you have been accepted as a candidate by your chosen party you can get down to the business of working in your constituency, preparing for and fighting the election.

Get ready for the general public - we're a demanding lot and we want answers now! You'll have to make sure you know as much as possible about your party's views and policies and you'll have to be charming with it. Not smarmy or you might not get elected purely on the basis of your character!

Each time a vacancy comes up (there are 659 seats in the House of Parliament, plus 129 in the Scottish Parliament and 60 in the Welsh Assembly) there will be an election - whether it's for one seat (a by-election) or whether all the seats are up for grabs (a general election) that's what you'll have to fight.

Hurdle 4: MP
You've been elected as a Member of Parliament and you are now running "surgeries" in your community to deal with the issues of members of the public, debating and voting on issues in the House of Commons, researching issues, reading a lot and sitting on various committees that discuss issues or the work of parliament. You may also make speeches around the country and be on television.

Hurdle 4: Yes Minister
So assuming that your party is in the majority in the Parliament there are going to be opportunities for you to become a minister. Again, it depends on how good you are in your role as an MP, what interests you have, who you get on with - oh I'm cynical, but it's true! You won't be giving up your constituency work completely so you have to be good at managing a large amount of work and you'll be even more in the public eye. The usual progression in ministerial jobs is from Junior Minister to Minister to cabinet Minister and all of this can take quite a long time! If your party is in opposition it doesn't matter, you can still progress up a slightly different ladder, as a spokesperson or opposition whep. And you'll get more money to supplement your £48,000 salary if you do.

And so to the tape…

Tape: PM
This is a job that only comes up every 4 years plus only one person in the country can have it at any one time so the competition is going to be tough! Plus it rather depends on whether your party wins the General Election over all or whether you are in a minority or official opposition.

Finally, as an inspiration, here's the resume of the nation's favourite (current) Prime Minister.

• He read Law at Oxford University and qualified as a barrister in London in 1976.
• He specialised in cases of unfair dismissal under Employment and Industrial Law until 1983.
• He married Cherie Booth in 1980 and they have four children.
• Tony Blair has been MP for Sedgefield since 1983.
• In Parliament he has held the following posts: Opposition spokesman on Treasury and Economic Affairs 1984-87
• Opposition spokesman on Trade and Industry 1987-88
• Shadow Secretary of State for Energy 1988-89
• Shadow Secretary of State for Employment 1989-92
• Opposition Spokesman on Home Affairs
• Leader of the Labour Party 1994-…?
• Prime Minister and Minister for the Civil Service 1997-..?

And by the way, he was the youngest person to become Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812 when he took on the role in 1997. He was 44. So you've got some time left!

by Katie Streten