Book Review: Politically Correct

Having spent the last couple of weeks prepping our ‘Circus of the Invisible [1]’ lobby action stunt, yesterday (October 20) was a barrel of laughs for our Ctrl.Alt.Shift foot soldiers, who had a barrel of tax and climate justice queries (and demands) for our busy buddy MPs…

It was a heavy day all around - as ever, we wonder still what the next steps are for those beyond Parliament’s doors.

Rightly so then, this week we recommend ‘Politically Correct’; a book that illustrates the life and fast times of an aspiring MP; from the campaign brainwaves, to visiting voter doorsteps to election day.

Ever wondered what it takes to become an MP, the journey, pitfalls and real intentions to be in a position of power - and if really, anyone can do it? Gareth Allen’s story tells us that sometimes fighting for your own vision in the system is a trying battle, but one worth having a shot at…

“Running as an independent candidate was always going to be an uphill struggle… but it was the best way to learn about our democracy, and to find out what really makes people tick”

In the general election of 2010, Gareth (35, of Normanton) ran for parliament as an independent candidate, taking on the might of the Westminster establishment - and specifically his local MP Yvette Cooper.

In around 220 pages, Gareth lays out his adventure in politics to all, as he strikes up a formidable campaign with a “shoestring budget”, without a supporting party, no Eton College on his CV or existing MP ‘buddies’. It was his friends and the local people who helped Gareth mould a credible candidate out of himself, as he got out in the community and drew up his manifesto.

Running up to the election, Gareth plunged into full time campaigning - an exhausting trial as he knocked on doors, meeting hundreds of voters, debating the other candidates in set piece Hustings meetings.

But Gareth knew it was always going to far from easy: “Running as an independent candidate was always going to be an uphill struggle… but it was the best way to learn about our democracy, and to find out what really makes people tick.”

We won’t spoil the ending for you - but Gareth’s brush with democracy is definitely one to check out - especially at a time when faith and trust in those in power may be a little frail; Politically Correct, as well as detailing features of British electoral law and giving a brilliant insight into the British public - it proves not every politician has to be ‘corrupt’…

“It was a heck of a journey. Sometime frustrating, sometimes genuinely uplifting. But always interesting” says Gareth.

This is the outsider on the inside telling their unique story for us.

Politically Correct is £9.99 and can be bought off www.lulu.com [2]

Words: Dwain Lucktung
Photo: Courtesy of illustrator, Tom Pritchard [3]

For more information, contact Gareth at [4] or check up www.theconfidenceinterval.com [5].