Red Princes and Princesses: Labour grandees' offspring are following in their parents' footsteps

 

Jane Merrick
Sunday 23 December 2012 01:00 GMT
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Euan Blair is said to be considering following in his father's footsteps and entering politics
Euan Blair is said to be considering following in his father's footsteps and entering politics (Getty Images; PA)

Tony Blair fuelled speculation last week that his eldest son Euan is to follow him into Westminster politics by revealing he had advised his son he needed "passion" to be an MP.

If, as expected, the younger Mr Blair attempts to run for Parliament at the 2015 election, he joins a band of Red Princes – and Princesses – who are trying to emulate their famous Labour parents.

While the Conservatives have the Gummers (John and son Ben), the Johnsons (brothers Boris and Jo) and the Hurds (Douglas and son Nick), Labour has arguably the strongest dynastic traditions, including Margaret Jay and her prime minister father, Jim Callaghan, and the Benn family.

Mr Blair told a lunch of political journalists last week: "Don't do it unless you feel it as a vocation. I tried 10 times to become a Member of Parliament and failed to win various selections. I was absolutely determined that nothing was going to stop me. Politics is something you should never do unless it's absolutely passionate within you."

Euan Blair, 28, son of Tony Blair

Key relatives Dad is former prime minister Tony Blair, mum Cherie.

Ambitions Rumoured to be vying for Coventry North West seat of Geoffrey Robinson.

CV Currently working at a Coventry employment agency, Sarina Russo Job Access. Before that he worked at bankers Morgan Stanley, and has been quietly active in the Labour Party, attending fundraisers and party conference receptions. At the age of 16, he became the most famous drunken teenager in the country when he was caught "incapable" in Leicester Square after celebrating the end of his GCSEs.

Could Blair the Younger have picked an easier seat? The incumbent, Mr Robinson, is a long-term ally of Gordon Brown.

Emily Benn, 23, granddaughter of Tony Benn

Key relatives Grandfather is veteran Labour politician Tony Benn; uncle is frontbencher Hilary Benn.

Ambitions After trying and failing to win a seat in 2010, does she want to try again?

CV Benn was selected as Labour's candidate for the 2010 election for East Worthing, and Shoreham in September 2007, three weeks before her 18th birthday. She came third. Now on a graduate training programme at UBS Investment Bank.

Will Straw, 32, son of Jack Straw

Key relatives Father is Jack Straw.

Ambitions Has declared an interest in Rossendale and Darwen.

CV Associate director at IPPR think tank. He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "Fighting, and hopefully winning, the seat would be a satisfying and rewarding challenge."

Andy Sawford, 36, son of Phil Sawford

Key relatives Dad is Phil Sawford, until 2005 the MP for Kettering, the next-door seat to Corby.

Ambitions Last month won Corby by-election for Labour, replacing departing MP Louise Mensch.

CV Before Corby he was chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit, a trustee of the Centre for Public Scrutiny and a councillor in Dartford, Kent.

Georgia Gould, 26, daughter of Philip Gould

Key relatives The late Philip Gould, one of the founders of New Labour, was her father. Random House supremo Gail Rebuck is her mother.

Ambitions Thought to be interested in going for a south-east seat.

CV Straight out of Oxford, Gould put herself forward for the Labour selection for Erith and Thamesmead in 2009. Her attempt sparked cries of nepotism, and she failed to get selected. But she is thought to be still interested in going for a seat next time.

An earlier version of this article suggested that Joe Dromey may be interested in the Lewisham Deptford seat. We now understand that this is not the case.

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