If you have found ‘How to get Elected’ whilst thinking about joining a Political Party to become a Candidate, you may still find some significant benefit from everything that this Blogsite can provide.
There are good and even great politicians in all of the Political Parties. However, there aren’t enough of them yet to make the difference that the electorate needs.
‘How to get Elected’ has been created to provide an alternative route to that which the Political Parties currently offer. Whilst the Political Parties pretty much have a monopoly on Elections at Parliamentary level, Independent Candidates, or Candidates affiliated with small or local political parties often have just as much opportunity as the main Political Parties to get elected too.
The upside of joining a well-known Political Party is that you can lean on the experience of others whenever you need it. You may have access to and the support of volunteers and activists who will physically help to campaign on your behalf. You will also, almost certainly have an Election Agent provided by the Local Party who will keep you in line with Electoral Law requirements, and have the costs of printing and potentially even the design of your campaign literature – which may be negligible – covered too.
The downside is that you will normally have to go through a selection process like applying for a job. Others – often sitting Councillors or Party Officials will decide for you whether you are fit to be a Party Candidate and if you are, where you will be able to run. (This may not be where you live if the Party already has incumbent Councillors representing the seat who do not intend to ‘Stand Down’ at the next Election).
When you are campaigning as a Party Candidate, you will usually be expected to openly show support for other Party candidates and this might mean campaigning in other areas or promoting affiliations that could be (seen as) negative towards your own campaign. Once you have won a seat as a Party Candidate, the seat is never really considered to be truly representative for its specific electorate, or even your own by the Party – even though you are the named candidate and occupant of the role. The first call on your loyalty will almost always be to the Party.
If you would like learn more about mainstream Political Party Membership, please follow the links below:
The Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru)
Adam Tugwell 
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