Jo Swinson MP gives us her advice on what aspiring candidates should be doing:

• Be open minded. Standing for Parliament can be an interesting and worthwhile experience itself, even if the job of MP / MSP / MEP doesn’t appeal to you. When I first stood, in a safe Labour seat, it was clear I wouldn’t win. However the skills I developed of building and motivating a team, working with the media, and planning a campaign all came in useful - both within politics and in my business career. I always think if you can inspire a team of volunteers to deliver leaflets in the pouring rain, leading a team of people in paid employment is much easier!
• Get a copy of the candidate approval form, and find a friend to look through it with (you can request a form here). Don’t feel you have to have done everything it mentions to apply - it’s just covering all bases to make sure people don’t forget to include relevant experience. The questions on the form might also give you ideas of things you might like to do - training to attend at party conference, making a speech, or getting involved in a local campaign for example. A friend will often think of things you’ve forgotten about your achievements, and can help you blow your own trumpet, which is not something which always comes easily.
• Fill in the form, and do it soon. The approval process itself is a worthwhile exercise. You get a good appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunity to go on training. It can also be a confidence booster. Importantly, being an approved candidate gives you flexibility. It doesn’t compel you to stand, but if your ideal opportunity comes along, you won’t miss it because of not being approved in time.
• Act like a sponge for ideas and advice. Network within the party - locally, regionally and at national party conferences, by-elections and events. People love being asked for their advice (and you don’t always have to take it!) so pick up a wide range of views to help you form your own picture of the political situation and prospects in particular constituencies.
• Prioritise what is important for you. What do you want to achieve? What other influences will you be factoring in - career, family commitments, finances? Different people have got elected in different ways. Lynne Featherstone stayed put and overturned a 26,000 Labour majority over 8 years. Sandra Gidley won when her home seat suddenly became vacant and winnable because of a Parliamentary by-election. Jenny Willott moved to Cardiff to take on a target seat and win it, coming very close in 2001, and winning with a 5000+ majority in 2005.
• Think ahead. Even if you don’t want to be elected next time, having a long term plan can help you make decisions now that will make it easier for you in future. Where to locate, what jobs to apply for, what involvement you have in your local party, what experiences to pursue?
• Do it!

You can read more advice on our “Be the Candidate” page and in the “do it” section of this site.

If you have any advice of your own for publishing here, email it to info@reflectingbritain.org.uk.

Thanks for those of you who have contributed suggestions for people thinking of applying to become approved Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidates. You can read what people have written here (if you have something to contribute but haven’t yet, please do have your say by commenting on that page!).

Steve Guy has three good basic starting suggestions:

1. Don’t be shy - if you think it may be for you, take the plunge (or else you’ll never know)
2. It would be great to have a one on one chat with someone who’s been through it
3. Get active with you local party

Andy Darley has some good news for people who believe that candidate selection is all about creating “election-fighting robots”:

The ideal Liberal Democrat candidate isn’t assessed on how they look on TV, they’re judged by what they believe.

So don’t be ashamed of idealism, and don’t be afraid to go in to the candidate selection process with your heart on your sleeve. You’ll be expected to prove you understand the practical methods of turning your ideals into reality, sure, but don’t focus so much on the practical that you ignore the point of it all.

Linda Jack tends to agree:

So, who ever you are, you have something to offer, we live in a society governed by packaging, for me its far more important to know where your heart is. Its not about Oxbridge degrees, its about wisdom, compassion and a commitment to ensuring that EVERYONE has a stake in our increasingly divided society. So………whoever you are……go get em!!!!

Stephen Glenn has this to say about the approval day that all applicants have to go through:

The thing is the exercises you have to prepare for to get approved are things that a candidate really has to go through to a greater of lesser extent depending on the constituency and your profile in that race. Having now observed up close my second by-election and a key seat campaign in the general election since I have seen how this is good grounding in the skills that you require. The assessors are not so much trying to catch you out as test you to the limit. If you are going to be a candidate and more if you get elected and become an MP you have to be up to challenge.

Allan Siao Ming Witherick has this good advice, coming from someone still going through the process:

Don’t give up and don’t see it as the be all end all…

By not getting diverted on General Election Day I was able to stand for a County seat- and win - by 10 votes! If I had been distracted by being a PPC somewhere else I don’t know if I would have won…

Now I am a County Councillor, Police Authority Member and about to Chair my first Topic Group while facing District Council elections.

That’s more experience which means when I do PPC I’ll be in a far better position.

So don’t give up- and look at all the opportunities in the party!

Thanks for all the really great advice folks! And please, keep it coming!

As part of our new drive to encourage people to consider applying to get on the Lib Dem’s approval list, we’d like your feedback.

• What are the most rewarding aspects of going through the process and being a candidate?
• What are the greatest challenges?
• What hints and tips would you give to people thinking of applying?

Please add your views in the comments section below - thanks a lot.

Note: comments on this site are moderated and there may be a short delay before your comment is approved and posted. Thank you for your patience.

In an interview with online women’s lifestyle magazine nuts4chic, Jo Swinson MP gives this advice to anybody thinking of a career in politics:

Do it. I think that a lot of people get put off and think it’s not for them. And the one thing I have always said is ‘If you really care passionately about your local area, about political issues, you’re half way there.

The other stuff you can learn – you can learn how to make polished speeches, you can learn how to write a press release… you can learn how to interpret legislation. I’ve been doing a fair bit of that over the past six months. But you can’t learn to care if you dont.

So, if you care about issues, and generally if someone is considering a career in politics you would imagine they do, then really the advice is to go for it, but with your eyes open in that there’s no guarantees.

Jo has further advice for potential candidates in the interview. Reflecting Britain will be launching a new campaign to encourage people to put their names forward soon.