Thursday, January 21, 2010

What constitutes "living in the Consituency"?

With the up coming elections there is one question candidates either like to dodge or shout about. This is usually about where they reside or live. Most try to have a connection with the Constituency they want to represent. So what does "live in the constituency" actually mean?

For instance on Djanogly's website he says: ".... live in the constituency together with their son and daughter". Another instance is Labour candidate Anthea Cox who used an address in St Ives in a letter to Hunts Post.

To Djanogly this means to live in Huntingdon 3 days a week. Friday to Sunday. I don't know whether this is every week as they must have holidays etc. But Djanogly doesn't have a mortgage on his Alconbury house.


As Djanogly and his family live in their London home during the week in their very large 4 storey semi detached house (valued in the millions). I take it as said his children go to school in London. With a connection with The Hampstead Theatre where they purchased a seat. With their accountants in London and Djanogly used to work in London as a partner in the solicitors SJ Berwin LLP. Their business (it seems to be from mail order to property ownership) is also based in London.

With Jonathan Djanogly recorded as being on the electoral roll twice in London (and in Huntingdon). Once for his London home and once as a business elector in the City. With his parents also living in London/Marlow it rather makes his house in Alconbury look more like a weekend country retreat.

So does Jonathan Djanogly actually "live" in the constituency? The answer is YES. "Live" in this context means effectively a weekend retreat or secondary home. It can also be said that Djanogly lives in London and this is his primary residence.

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