You will hear few nine-year-olds in primary school proclaiming their wish to be a Liberal Democrat. Fireman? Yes. Soldier? Almost certainly. Bank robber? There’s always one. Politician to the centre left of their party? Unlikely.
Many politicians seem to wander into politics at university. Some have been brought up in a partisan household and have followed their parents to Whitehall. But where does the spark come from to inspire the rest of those future MPs to have a tilt at life in the political sphere?
As part of Parliament Week, the Houses of Parliament Shop and Biteback Publishing are hosting a literary event in Portcullis House.
On Thursday November 22, a panel of noteworthy political figures will explain which role models from the Houses of Parliament have inspired them over the course of their careers.
Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West, and author of How To Be An MP and Clockwinder Who Wouldn’t Say No, Lord Phillip Norton of Louth, editor of Eminent Parliamentarians: The Speaker’s Lectures, and David Steel, who is the subject of David Torrance’s David Steel: Rising Hope to Elder Statesman, will all be on a panel of guest speakers invited to reminisce about their most inspirational political role models. Each have pursued different political lives and careers and will provide a fascinating insight as to what influenced their decisions and choices.
You can book your place here. Please note that there will be airport style security scanners on entry. There probably won’t be free peanuts or a nice lady telling you how best to don a lifejacket.