Below is an open letter I wrote for Margaret Beckett. To see how the BBC covered it Click Here. The interview starts from 1hr and 8mins in.
Dear Margaret,
Having tried and failed to secure the speakership of the House of Commons, this is an open letter asking you to resign your position as the Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Derby South. I am writing on behalf of the hundreds of people I have met in Derby who do not believe that your candidacy at the next election is in the best interests of you, the city or its residents.
Before examining the reasons behind this, I would like to be clear about the credit you are due. In a political career that has run from your initial election in Lincoln in 1974 to the present day; you have fought elections both close and comfortable, you have smoothly managed a transition from arch-socialist to arch-blairite, you remain the only woman to have ever led your party and the only woman to have held the post of Foreign Secretary. The country owes you a debt and it is richer for your service.
However, I believe it is now time for you to hang up your rosette. The recent decision of the House of Commons not to elect you speaker was the right one. Question marks over your own expenses, your remote approach to representation and most damningly of all, your close ties to this discredited government all render you an inappropriate choice for speaker. I also believe they make you an inappropriate choice to be one of this city’s MPs.
If it were just me calling for you to go, I could understand you choosing to ignore this letter. However, it is not. The majority of people in this city want an MP that has stepped into the 21st century and can actually be contacted by email! They want an MP whose diary they can access, whose opinions they can find out, whose expenses are transparent and whose help is close at hand. Most of all, they want 
an MP free from the baggage of both local and national political failure. I’m afraid you are unable to provide any of this.
After such a long career, it would be tragic to see you defeated at the polls. I therefore strongly recommend that you step down and help the Labour party choose a new candidate. My candidacy is based upon seven years as a soldier, two years working for charities overseas and an ongoing career with one of the world’s most prestigious businesses. I have an easy-to-use website at www.newderbymp.co.uk and am available for my constituents 24/7. I hope for the sake of the people of Derby that you select someone who can stand-up to that sort of competition.
Regards,
Jack Perschke – Conservative PPC Derby South
Jack,
I applaud you wholeheatedly, and wish you all the luck in the world whenever our Prime Minister is forced into calling an election. Back at Godalming in the mid 90’s you showed this sort of strength of character and I look forward to hearing that you have won the seat!
Yours,
Phil Jacques
Cheers Phil, good to hear from you after all these years. Have a look at this link for how the BBC covered this. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p003fxlc/The_Colin_Bloomfield_Show_23_06_2009/
thank you !!
I’m with you Jack – being a true blue tory myself
)
Good luck x
Thanks Rachael – To see how the BBC covered it Click Here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p003fxlc/The_Colin_Bloomfield_Show_23_06_2009/ The interview starts from 1hr and 8mins in.
Jack you are so right it is time for this woman to go. When asked about her expenses she answered it in a dismissive manner. She needs to accept that only the stupid would be fooled by her comments.
Her party cost me the job I loved after 24 years loyal service. Browns tax laws passed when he was at No.11 have ruined our country.
It will be a hard job for The Conservatives when the people vote them back to power. Lets hope you don’t get the blame for their mess.
This is going to be a bigger challenge than in 1979.
Good luck Jack, and you will have my vote when the election is called.
Great letter – fair but firm, and well written. You are an outstanding prospect for Derby, and I hope Derby sees sense and supports you!
She’s hasn’t got the good grace to give in that easily, more’s the pity. I think she’s done a better job of representing herself rather than the people of Derby.
We’re right with you there Jack!
Jack – Two things that have made my mind up not to vote for you. One is the Conservative position on Inheritance Tax. in a world that is in financial turmoil why is the Conservative Party spending so much time and effort on Inheritance tax whic only effects a very small section of society now.
Secondly, the decision to end The Sure Start. I and many families I know have benefited greatly from Sure Start and I only assume that the reason this is going is due to the fact that I can’t think of any Conservative MP will have had to use the service and the people who do use it won’t vote Conservative anyway.It begs the question to me and many I know, has your party really changed or is it still the party of the few?
Hi Chris,
Thanks very much for your comments. Our view on inheritance tax is that it is a taxing a huge number of people accross the country that have been prudent all their lives and want to pass one some of that success to their children is not good for anyone. The financial turmoil you describe is very real and has been caused by both government and the public developing unsustainable levels of debt. I think that encouraging people to save is therefore a sound approach.
I’m hugely grateful for you raising the Sure Start issues. We will NOT scrap Sure Start. Let me repeat that, we will NOT scrap Sure Start. We are committed to it and want to make it better. Suggestions that we will scrap it are deliberately spread lies designed to scare people into continuing to vote Labour. Click here on this link to read more about our policy on Sure Start.
Thanks again for your comments. I hope you’ll continue to contribute.
Jack
PS. An open letter to anyone that is shown on peoples website (this use of a letter has been used by other MP’s/wannabe MP’s of all parties and is immature and useless),is a very poor publicity stunt and the use of it is so transparent.Why not send her a letter personally, rather than use it as a pointless PR excersize?Is this the type of actions we will get from you if you are voted in as our MP?
I think there’s legitimacy in my position that Margaret Beckett has been an exceptional politician and Derby should be proud of her. However, her time has past and I honestly believe that local democracy and the eventual winner will be stronger if a more modern and in-touch candidate was selected by the Labour party. I’m sorry you disagree.
Oliver Letwin at last years conference “Sure Start is a programme we value and one we intend to continue,” he said. “It will not be cut back”
Phil Hammond, two months ago, the Conservative shadow chief secretary to the cabinet when specifically asked about Sure Start “We will be looking at individual projects and workstreams, but we haven’t made announcements about individual budgets yet,”
So which one is right? Also if you do gain power and your party does close it down will you publically critisise your leader?
Hi Chris,
Easy ones to answer here:
1. They are both right. We are committed to protecting Sure Start but we also haven’t made any announcments about individual budgets. Oliver works on policy and Phillip works on cost reduction. You’re highlighting two different perspectives rather than two different positions.
2. Yes, I will happily criticise anyone that tries to close-down Sure Start but I’m confident that I won’t have to under a Conservative government.
Thanks again,
Jack