One of my earliest political memories is the moment when Shirley Williams got up at Bradford in 1981 and announced that she would be a candidate in the Crosby by-election. Her talk of how sometimes in politics it was necessary to take risks, to “scale unscalable heights” gave the 14 year old me goosebumps. It was all very much “stand up for what you believe in, take risks, go and change the world” motivation.
Decades later, Shirley wrote about her decision to stand for Crosby in her excellent autobiography, Climbing the Bookshelves. At the time, I hadn’t truly understood the dilemma she faced.
This time I knew I had to stand despite the arguments, both public and private, against it. If I refused again to stand, I knew the media would treat me as a coward and that huge harm would be done to the new Party. I was like someone on the edge of a cliff that was crumbling beneath me. So when we reached Bradford I announced that I would stand, not taking into account the existence of a Liberal candidate in Crosby with high local standing and an excellent track record as a respected local councillor, Anthony Hill. Anthony was deeply disappointed at losing the chance to stand as a candidate for a constituency he had devoted his political life to, but he generously recognised the the opportunity Crosby offered to put the Alliance firmly on the road to success. Within days, he had rallied the local Liberal party to my candidature and met with the nascent local SDP…
She was alluding to her decision not to stand in the Warrington by-election a few months before. She described that as “probably the biggest single mistake of my political life.” Her reasoning was simple. She was a single mother, she had no great resources and a daughter and stepmother to support. She didn’t want to risk her job. It was, to me, an entirely understandable decision and I think she is being too hard on herself by saying that she felt that her reputation for boldness was permanently damaged. If anything, it makes her decision to stand in the much less likely Crosby a few months later even more courageous than I’d thought.
Compare and contrast with Nigel Farage’s pseudo-sensible decision not to stand for Newark. For all the talk of distraction, of not having any links with the East Midlands, it was cold, hard psephological fact that put paid to his ambition. Since 1950 ,that seat has spent half its time as a Labour seat, the other half as a Tory seat. Now, if it had been some seat in rural Lincolnshire with a massive Tory majority, you wouldn’t have needed to hold your breath for too long before Nigel found some connection to the area. Contrast with Shirley, who was prepared to take a massive risk with much less chance of success in 1981.
I do, by the way, hope that you are not taken in by the fact that Nigel made his decision in 12 hours after pouring his heart out to the BBC’s Norman Smith over loads of beer. This by-election is no surprise. It’s been on the cards ever since the first reports about Patrick Mercer last year.
The by-election that never was
All this talk of Newark has got me wondering if anyone remembers the by-election that never was in 1999. Fiona Jones had been elected as the Labour MP but was then found guilty of false election expenses returns and disqualified, a decision that was overturned on appeal a month later. The Liberal Democrats selected a candidate, Brian Niblett, and opened an HQ on the pretty Market Square. Pat Wainwright was there and it was where I first met John Ault. One of the leaflets which went out had a photo of a very heavily pregnant me in my hippy flowery dungarees. I wonder if anyone still has a copy of that anywhere.
Sadly, though, Fiona Jones’ story had an exceptionally tragic end. She lost her seat in 2001 and died at the age of 50 6 years later after battling alcoholism.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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17 Comments
It’s not necessary to be constantly cynical about Farage. This was a sensible, uncontroversial decision. He ain’t frit (if only).
I agree this was a sensible, uncontroversial decision, but that’s not the persona he’s built for himself. This is the man who challenged the Speaker and then was seriously injured in a plne accident on the day of polling.
I think Farage genuinely sees himself as a Hero, its no wonder he admires Putin, they both see themselves bestriding the World. “Tin-pot Hitler” sums Farage up perfectly.
After raising the prospect of running and winning, forcing David Cameron’s resignation, he has made himself a laughing stock.
Farage knows that he is unlikely to actually win a seat outside the wealthier ‘Home Counties’ or the more xenophobic areas of East Anglia. We must not underestimate his support – in many parts of the North and Midlands, he’d be able to come in a strong second, possibly even win. But it would be a risk and it looks like he just isn’t willing to risk anything that might overshadow his big moment in Brussels. Frit? That’s one way to push it, but its been done this way to keep his strategy on track.
Jayne Mansfield – Not to his supporters. And they’re the ones that will carry Ukip to possible victory in the EU elections.
Declaring him a laughing stock is inviting trouble when your own party is about to be wiped out…
Farage was well aware that any success UKIP had in the Euros would have been totally overshadowed by his campaign in Newark. Very sensible decision by him.
@ Stewart,
I don’t have a party.
Like many, the EU elections are not high on my list of concerns. Indeed at the last European elections my husband and I did not vote because we in France celebrating D day and the 65th anniversary of the landings at Pegasus bridge.
Ukip is the ideal protest party for those who are angry with the three main parties. Would those same voters want Ukip in power in Britain?
In my opinion, Nigel Farage’s excuses just don’t wash. He did not have any ties to Eastleigh or Buckingham when he stood for those constituencies. If he says that he only had a few hours to decide , I would have to ask myself why, given that there has been the possibility of a by election in Newark for quite some time.
wow, too much generosity to farage here surely. his bandwagon had a chance and he didn’t take it. rot to say he didn’t have links to the east midlands.
ukip – a flush now half busted.
Sorry, Jayne, I shouldn’t have assumed you were a Lib Dem member.
To be honest, I think this won’t change anything. He was already laughed at by many who will continue to do so. He will be taken seriously by plenty of others. I happen to think the gigglers are being complacent.
@ Stewart,
Well we all have an opinion, and yours carries as much weight as mine…. however, according to the Daily Mail , ‘Last night Mr Farage told the BBC that if he stood and won Mr Cameron would have to resign but if he lost UKIP would be finished, ” the bubble is burst”. It goes on to say that ‘Asked on Sky news, the question is have you bottled it , Mr Farage replied “yes”.
We all like to put the best possible spin on why we choose to do something, but I cannot but believe that Nigel Farage’s decision not to test whether the voters would want him as their MP, will have changed a number of possible supporters’ perceptions about him.
As I say, that is just my opinion.
Better a chicken than a crook. I notice you don’t have an article on Patrick Mercer’s disgraceful behaviour, though at least he stood down faster than Maria Miller.
It’s time to stop going on about Ukip. The more Lib/Lab/Con go on about how much they don’t like Ukip, the more certain people will be inclined to vote for them. These people feel they’re poking the establishment in the eye. Best to just shrug your shoulders and admit that there’s a lot of disillusionment out there.
Actually, nobody here has mentioned the timing. If Farage retains his seat in the European parliament this month, it would be incompatible with his sitting in Westminster if he won Newark. That would give him a really uncomfortable moment. Would he give up Brussels and embarace Westminster, or vice versa?
The other implicit assumption is that only Nigel Farage would be a credible by-election candidate. Is that really so?
Days were when the Liberals, SDP or Lib Dems would have jumped at a by-election in Newark – a strong third place, well within a swing to win. Now we will be told we are a party of Government and it is only to be expected that our vote is squeezed and we did well to keep our deposit
The BBC News thought Newark was the sort of constituency where UKIP tended to do well. That area has large numbers of immigrant agricultural workers (popular with the farmers but unpopular with townees who eat the food). This may be my only opportunity to mention that Jasper Carrot had a joke about an anagram of Newark…
Brian Niblett sadly passed away on Thursday 10 December following a yearlong battle with cancer.