Dave O, my main issues with internal Labour party politics are the imposition of all female shortlists for MPs and EU shortlists that are imposed centrally. Personally I want to be able to vote for the best potential candidate regardless of sex or ethnic background.

When I have interviewed candidates for positions at work I have always worked on the basis that I interview those who appear to be the best candidates for the job regardless of age, sex or ethnic background. I would like to make judgements on my prospective political representatives on the same basis.

Sounds like Ed Milliband has been reading this thread.

More likely had it read to him.

I haf my vays.

I'm also currently engaged in argument with a bunch of Blairite pricks on twitter, who are shitting themselves if they can't parachute their PPE buddies into safe seats

When I started this thread, I was thinking about how we in the UK could reduce the number of cookie-cutter MPs who had been through the the same PPE "education" and increase the number of candidates who actually represent the aims and values of their party members.
The only fly in the ointment for me is that I don't want to join a party.

You could register as a supporter rather than join the party. There are some difficulties with that including: how to prevent members of another party registering as supporters and influencing selection, how do you cater for those who are undecided?

Well as a result of the selection process in Chester the person selected was Chris Matheson. Not who I voted for by the way. He has a degree from the LSE so one step removed from PPE and works for Unite which is interesting given the current news about that. He did work in industry beforehand so he isn't a "right out of PPE into politics" sort but what was interesting was he was clearly the preferred candidate of the local party hierarchy. I got leaflets endorsing his candidacy with the names of several local councillors and activists on them urging me to vote for him.

I didn't but it looks like the party machine got its way. Not to say he won't be a good candidate but its clear he was the "chosen one" so to speak.