Blur drummer Dave Rowntree wants to be Norwich South's next MP.

Blur drummer wants to be Norwich’s next MP

by DAN GRIMMER Monday, October 24, 2011
11:18 AM

The drummer with chart-topping rock band Blur is hoping to become Norwich’s next MP.

Musician Dave Rowntree is one of four candidates on Labour’s selection shortlist to decide who will battle to win the party back the Norwich South seat at the next general election.

The 47-year-old, whose hits with Britpop band Blur include Song 2, There’s No Other Way, Girls And Boys and Beetlebum, hopes to be picked as Labour’s candidate to challenge Liberal Democrat Simon Wright when the country next goes to the polls.

But if he is to get the chance to run for Norwich South, he first needs to convince local Labour members that he should be their choice. And he faces competition from current Norwich City councillor Victoria MacDonald, BBC television reporter Clive Lewis and Joe Goldberg, who ran against Prime Minister David Cameron in last year’s general election.

Mr Rowntree, who owns a cottage in Spixworth, has been increasing his profile in Norwich in recent months. He appeared as a speaker at the Norwich Sound and Vision Festival and helped with canvassing during the city council elections last autumn.

He has appeared at events such as the opening of the Grapes Hill Community Garden, the Magdalen Street Celebration and, at the weekend, he attended the Hardest Hit rally at Chapelfield Gardens, where disabled people protested against government cuts.

Mr Rowntree said he had “fallen in love” with Norwich, having spent so much time campaigning in the city.

He said: “Growing up in Colchester, there was a sense of community, which I really miss and I think we have that in Norwich. I felt really welcome in this beautiful place, with its wonderful history. My girlfriend and I have rented a small cottage in Spixworth and we’ve started coming up here every weekend. The more time I spend here, the more I fall in love with it.”

Mr Rowntree’s chart record, which includes five number one albums and 13 top 10 singles, currently far eclipses his political successes.

In April 2007 and July 2008 he was unsuccessful in his efforts to win seats on Westminster City Council and in last year’s general election he stood for the Cities of London and Westminster.

He garnered 8,188 votes, but finished in second place well behind Conservative Mark Field, who won 19,264 in a traditionally true blue seat.

Confirming his shortlisting on social networking site Twitter, Mr Rowntree said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to be on the Norwich South shortlist in the esteemed company of @clivelewis01, @joedgoldberg, and @CllrVickyMD.”

Mrs MacDonald, who lives in Eaton, is a city councillor for Lakenham and is cabinet member for housing. The mother-of-two said she was “very proud” to have the chance to run for selection for Norwich South.

Mr Lewis, 40, is a television reporter for Look East and the BBC’s Politics Show. In 2009, he served a tour as a Territorial Army officer in Helmand province - a Lieutenant leading his platoon through some of the bloodiest fighting of the Afghan conflict.

He said on Twitter that he “is both honoured and excited to be short-listed for the Labour Party’s Norwich South selection process.”

Mr Goldberg serves as the cabinet member for finance and carbon reduction at Haringey Council in London. He stood against Mr Cameron in Witney during the general election, finishing in third place with 7,511 votes.

He said on Twitter that he was “Really honoured to have been shortlisted 4 Norwich South. This is about taking the fight to Simon Wright and the Lib Dems.”

The final hustings will take place on Saturday, November 19, after which the Labour members will decide which candidate will become their prospective parliamentary candidate.

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35 comments

you wouldnt bring back fred goodwin to sort out the banks so why would you bring the labour party back to sort out the staggering mess they left behind them

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running bear

Sunday, October 30, 2011
I think Labour members in Norwich are spoilt for choice with four excellent candidates. One view on here I find disturbing however is this ridiculous notion that you can only be a good MP if you come from the town. I spent my early childhood here but have moved around the country due to my fathers work. Having chosen to return and raise my own children in Norfolk I'm astonished by the level of prejudice displayed against "newcomers". What makes a good MP is someone had lived in the real world, who knows what it means to do a hard days work, to worry about bills and balancing work demands with family - someone also with the right values and good judgement. The rest they can sort out with a good Sat Nav.

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Sam Rushworth

Sunday, October 30, 2011
why all these @s? What ru getting @? Will have to discuss it @ the Synagogue 2morrow. No way am I going to "salute" Labour or any other political party. And nor a bigot of whichever persuasion.

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Mad Brewer

Friday, October 28, 2011
@mad brewer. Maybe you should give the labour party one of these salutes

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running bear

Friday, October 28, 2011
@mad brewer. Maybe you should give the labour party one of these salutes

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running bear

Friday, October 28, 2011
Sieg Heil RB....Salom.

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Mad Brewer

Friday, October 28, 2011
isnt this the party who had an unlimited budget for immigration yet slashed the budget for our troops in afghanistan . The result was many of troops died because they were short of essential safety gear and helicopters . Brown at first denied this but after an investigation finally admitted he had short changed our brave troops

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running bear

Friday, October 28, 2011
I wish somebody would fund a bit more immigration into Norfolk. As a native, I sometimes find my countymens` insularity embarrassing. People from far, far afield. Say Scroby Sands?

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, October 27, 2011
Now, I've been around a lot longer than some of you on here, I've seen some good times, I've seen the worst of times. I've also learned to respect my fellow human being, irrespective of their nationality, religion or race. Standing shoulder to shoulder with them, trust in each other. Running Bear, I'm afraid you should be renamed Squatting Dog in honour of the dirt you speak.

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Valpy Word

Thursday, October 27, 2011
@RB - Please define 'British person'.

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Debagio

Thursday, October 27, 2011
@RB - Please define 'British person'.

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Debagio

Thursday, October 27, 2011
RB, maybe its because your views are abhorent to anyone outside the BNP so aren't worthy or a response?

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robotsthatcare

Thursday, October 27, 2011
Mr Bear, I fear you have failed to grasp the point of my previous post, which is that your reasoning is suspect and your conclusions unsustainable. The reason I have not come up with an alternative to your your post is that you are sadly mistaken. I believe your motive is not so much to engage in robust political debate, but to stoke the fires of hatred based on nationality or skin colour. I spent 1939 to 1945 serving queen and country to try and halt the progress of Mr Hitler. Sadly, it looks as though my efforts were wasted

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Imatrollfolderol

Thursday, October 27, 2011
So right Gato. Spot on. Wish I could afford the luxuries enjoyed by the ersatz unwell. And I used to vote Labour, until it came to mean the reverse. "I like work, I could watch it all day".

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Juno Read needs to check the facts Simon Wright voted against the government on fees he didn't abstain. At least he comes from Norfolk and lives here in Norwich South which isn't the case for most of Labour's short list.

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d.harold

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
It doesn't matter who you are - if there are enough freeloaders living on welfare in the constituency they'll return a Labour candidate.Only if there is a double episode of Eastenders-X factor- Dancing with idiots on TV. & it's raining might they struggle.

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Dick Turnip

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Runningbear, I'm not entirely sure that I follow your logic. As someone who is partially-sighted, has mobility problems and is fortunate enough to receive attendance allowance, I know only too well the difficulties faced by the disabled in this area. However, i don't feel the need to blame foreigners for any difficulties I encounter. I have friends of all skin hues and I look upon them every bit as fondly as their white brethren. Why, my local post office is run by an indian gentleman and very efficient he is too. Perhaps you would join me in supporting the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People in providing assistance for the physically and mentally challenged of Norfolk?

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Imatrollfolderol

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
so dave is protesting about cuts to the disabled . .This coalition are only doing what his disgraceful labour party did for thirteen years. Steal taxpayers money to fund immigration and foreign aid . British houses and jobs and taxes for british people. Only then will our disabled and others get what they fully deserve

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running bear

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
why vote for the monster raving looney party when you can vote labour

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running bear

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
What's wrong with living on the South side of the city, Dave?

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Town Close Mardler

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
As Mr Rowntree lives in Spixworth, it would be nice to hear his views on the Northern Distributor Rd and the massed housing that is planned for that area ?

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John L Norton

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Entertainers and "celebrities" seem to be moving in on every sphere of activity from politics to punditry. Entertainers in Politics seems fair enough. We`ve been electing clowns for yonks.

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Mad Brewer

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
No musician in their right mind would support a party who in government put so many obstacles in the way of live performance in the way of licences, smoking bans and performance restrictions. Those of us who live in the real world have watched many gigs disappearing as a direct result of political interference,and would be very reluctant to support anyone who represented this party. Perhaps Dave Rowntree doesn't see it on the university and stadium circuit, but believe me it is happening

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Harry Rabinowitz

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The great merrygoround never stops and new wool is being spun, ready to be thrown over our eyes. Has Norwich got no Independent characters anymore? Why this harping back to those who betrayed us all? I'll suppose all ills are forgotten. Make sure that whoever comes to your door, agrees to act on your mandate, not ptioritise their parties highjacked agenda's. Political parties increasingly have to rely on the pull of celeb's as their own performances go from abysmal to dire.

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ingo wagenknecht

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
nuLabour are finished in Norwich... on the mp trail. You only have to look at the weak selection of wannabe's, to realise what a shamble and laughing stock they are......Does Gordon, still pick up his mp pay check?? since this clown bit the dust....not a peep

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nrg

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
This is the same Simon Wright who voted FOR the destruction of the NHS. May he never represent us again.I voted for Clark once, then he pushed through the PFI of the hospital after promising on the eve of the 97 election that he would open the books if elected, and lets mention the war which he voted for in Cabinet. Wright largely won because so many of us were sick of Charlie. I hope we get a good Labour candidate or keep voting Green and let Adrian Mole have a chance at being an MP.

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Saskia

Monday, October 24, 2011
He lives in a house, a very big house in the country.

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Callum Ringer

Monday, October 24, 2011
he would go down well with the student audience ! unless they are oasis fans !!

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Double Bill

Monday, October 24, 2011
Note the phrase "He has appeared at events ..." - i.e. he was present but didn't do anything. This surely makes him ideal MP material... Mind you, COLD does have a point...

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DrJB

Monday, October 24, 2011
You're quite right, Lev, my post was inaccurate and I apologise. Red Steepler's theory seems closer to the truth though.

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Jono Read

Monday, October 24, 2011
To describe Simon Wright's decision to vote against a rise in tuition fees as a rebellion is itself a "reWrighting" of history. For months after month he dithered and prevaricated until almost the last day before the vote when his party's whips had calculated they could cut him some slack and allow him to vote against the bill without endangering the outcome. Some rebel!

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Red Steepler

Monday, October 24, 2011
To describe Simon Wright's decision to vote against a rise in tuition fees as a rebellion is itself a "reWrighting" of history. For months after month he dithered and prevaricated until almost the last day before the vote when his party's whips had calculated they could cut him some slack and allow him to vote against the bill without endangering the outcome. Some rebel!

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Red Steepler

Monday, October 24, 2011
Jono Read you appear to be re-writing history, Wright rebelled and voted against fees, he didn't abstain - which was a whole lot better than our last Labour yes man, who oversaw the introduction of top up fees.

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LevYashin

Monday, October 24, 2011
I've heard Simon Wright is playing the card with new students that he didn't vote for an increase in tuition fees. Abstaining doesn't exactly make him any more principled than the other Lib Dem MPs - he pledged to vote against rises in fees. Also, if followers of Blair were 'Blairites', followers of Brown were 'Brownites', does that make followers of the Blur drummer a 'Blurite'?

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Jono Read

Monday, October 24, 2011
Well he certainly couldn't do any worse than the current MP's we have, or could he?

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COLD

Monday, October 24, 2011