Friday, April 01, 2005
Magazine interviews are part of the job too.....
One of the interesting things about being a parliamentary candidate is how many new areas of political life you are made aware of. Last month I was interviewed by a magazine called Public Affairs News - a trade magazine for the lobbying industry.
Here is an excerpt from the final article:
1. Can you begin by telling us what motivated you to stand for Parliament?
Sadiq Khan (Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Tooting): I have never wanted to be an MP for the sake of having that title; first and foremost, I am a local man who wants to represent my constituency.
2. What are likely to be the key issues in the next Parliament?
Khan: The key themes of the G8 and EU Presidencies this year, climate change and Africa, will continue to be important beyond 2005. The referendum on the EU Constitution, expected next spring, will also dominate politics once the general election is over. Aside from that, I would agree that the way money in the public services is spent is also vital.
3. So why do so few people choose to vote? How can politicians remedy this situation?
Khan: Politicians must become more directly attached and accountable to their own electorate, for example, by holding public meetings. The public is fed up with the ‘yah-boo’ nature of adversarial politics.
4. Looking at the Public Affairs industry, what type of approaches do you expect from the lobbyists? What would be the worst way to approach you?
Khan: My best advice to lobbyists is to cut to the chase! Time is an issue for all MPs and candidates, so there is nothing wrong with approaching them, as long as your message is succinct.
5. But business interests are not always in the public interest?
Khan: The PA industry is also able to help to solve genuine social problems; during the past 10 years the number of big multinationals doing good community work has increased dramatically. That has a lot to do with the advice given by the PA industry to its clients.
6. What are your thoughts on the media – how do you intend to use it as an MP?
Khan: Most MPs have around 70,000 constituents within areas which have prisons, hospitals, police stations and diverse communities. The media is necessary to communicate messages to your local residents, as you cannot personally speak to every member of the electorate.
7. There has been an increasing move to push issues through the media rather than Parliament – is this a good development?
Khan: Exploiting real life cases in this negative way only helps to damage public perception of politicians – it leads to the public view that ‘you are all the same’.
8. So how will Parliament change in light of the huge technological changes soon to take place?
Khan: It may assist in more openness around Parliament. Politicians are already closely scrutinised – I recently spoke at a public meeting with around 400 people, and a recording of my speech appeared on the internet just days later.
9. Do you have any apprehensions about becoming an MP?
Khan: This is an exciting opportunity to change people’s lives directly and I cannot wait to get going.
10. Finally, if you had to offer a sound bite of advice to the PA industry for the coming years?
Khan: Aim for a responsible, mature approach.
What do you think about the world of lobbying and public affairs? I'd be interested to hear your views.
Here is an excerpt from the final article:
1. Can you begin by telling us what motivated you to stand for Parliament?
Sadiq Khan (Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Tooting): I have never wanted to be an MP for the sake of having that title; first and foremost, I am a local man who wants to represent my constituency.
2. What are likely to be the key issues in the next Parliament?
Khan: The key themes of the G8 and EU Presidencies this year, climate change and Africa, will continue to be important beyond 2005. The referendum on the EU Constitution, expected next spring, will also dominate politics once the general election is over. Aside from that, I would agree that the way money in the public services is spent is also vital.
3. So why do so few people choose to vote? How can politicians remedy this situation?
Khan: Politicians must become more directly attached and accountable to their own electorate, for example, by holding public meetings. The public is fed up with the ‘yah-boo’ nature of adversarial politics.
4. Looking at the Public Affairs industry, what type of approaches do you expect from the lobbyists? What would be the worst way to approach you?
Khan: My best advice to lobbyists is to cut to the chase! Time is an issue for all MPs and candidates, so there is nothing wrong with approaching them, as long as your message is succinct.
5. But business interests are not always in the public interest?
Khan: The PA industry is also able to help to solve genuine social problems; during the past 10 years the number of big multinationals doing good community work has increased dramatically. That has a lot to do with the advice given by the PA industry to its clients.
6. What are your thoughts on the media – how do you intend to use it as an MP?
Khan: Most MPs have around 70,000 constituents within areas which have prisons, hospitals, police stations and diverse communities. The media is necessary to communicate messages to your local residents, as you cannot personally speak to every member of the electorate.
7. There has been an increasing move to push issues through the media rather than Parliament – is this a good development?
Khan: Exploiting real life cases in this negative way only helps to damage public perception of politicians – it leads to the public view that ‘you are all the same’.
8. So how will Parliament change in light of the huge technological changes soon to take place?
Khan: It may assist in more openness around Parliament. Politicians are already closely scrutinised – I recently spoke at a public meeting with around 400 people, and a recording of my speech appeared on the internet just days later.
9. Do you have any apprehensions about becoming an MP?
Khan: This is an exciting opportunity to change people’s lives directly and I cannot wait to get going.
10. Finally, if you had to offer a sound bite of advice to the PA industry for the coming years?
Khan: Aim for a responsible, mature approach.
What do you think about the world of lobbying and public affairs? I'd be interested to hear your views.
Sadiq
