9:00am Saturday 20th March 2010
With the general election at risk of becoming more about wannabe MPs' personalities than policies, MICHAEL PURTON asks whether a candidate’s personal life should influence voters.
WHEN the Liberal Democrats announced Britain’s first female hardcore porn director as their parliamentary candidate for the Gravesham seat, many a jaw hit the ground.
But if someone agrees with Anna Arrowsmith’s policies, should they not vote for her just because they disagree with the way she makes her money?
And what about the other candidates in north Kent - a 23-year-old with no political experience and a former soldier among them - should their non-political life sway voters?
Here’s what voters and those hoping to win their vote had to say.
Anna Arrowsmith, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Gravesham:
“People are going to be aware of the industry I’m involved in, but they should decide whether to vote for me based on my plans for Gravesham and whether they think I have the skills to carry them out.
“Voters cannot help but look at a candidates past and personality, but I think the bottom line should be the policies because that’s what’s going to affect their lives.”
David Russell, aged 60, of Stanham Road, Dartford:
“I think it is reasonable to consider the past and personality of a politician because it gives an indication of what decisions they will make in power and how equipped they are for the task.
“If someone had done something that was morally dubious it could put me off voting for them.”
Paul Golding, British National Party candidate for Sevenoaks:
“If someone agrees with my policies they should not take into account that the media is hostile to the BNP and says we are racist.
“A lot of newspapers have reported the criminal past of my younger brother Jamie, but I should not be judged on that when people are deciding whether to vote for me.”
William Page, aged 70, of Downs Road, Istead Rise:
“I do not necessarily think the non-political past of a candidate has a bearing on their ability to be an MP, but I would not vote for someone who is in the porn industry for moral reasons.
“I think politics in this country has become too much about the image of the politician rather than their policies, too much about spin.
“It started with Margaret Thatcher and was carried on by Tony Blair, and now it is widespread and influences people too much.”
Adam Holloway, Gravesham MP:
“I think it’s really important to look at the past of candidates to see what they are like so you can have an idea of how they are going to perform.
“People will giggle at Anna Arrowsmith’s past, but her starting her own business and making movies shows she has drive and get’s things done.”
Valerie Simmons, aged 68, of Norfolk Road, Gravesend:
“How a candidate has earned their money or lives their personal life has nothing to do with politics, so it would not influence me.
“There is too much focus on the person rather than the policies, but for me their personal life is irrelevant. I vote on policies.”
Lawrence Sturrock, aged 56, of Marriott Road, Dartford:
“If a politician had a background I did not like I would not vote for them regardless of their policies.
“The porn director woman should not be standing, and should not have been chosen as a candidate, for moral reasons.”
Allen Saxby, aged 61, of Whitehill Road, Gravesend:
“There would have to be something very extreme in a candidates past to make me not vote for them if I agreed with their policies. Being a porn director would not put me off.
“I do not go out of my way to research the past of candidates because I do not want to be swayed by that, I want to focus on policies.”
Kathryn Smith, Labour parliamentary candidate for Gravesham:
"I believe a person’s past gives an indication of the personal choices they have made and the values they hold.
"It also demonstrates how they might behave in Parliament and what issues they will focus on."
"Politics has increasingly become more about image and personality, which is a pity. "I hope people will vote for the candidate who most shares their values and aspirations for the future of our country. "Elections should be about who has the best policies not the best Public Relations."
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