“’Chelsea tractors’ are cars that have been subject to a great deal of unjust, political persecution,” says Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind of the term used to refer to the popular, big jeeps cruising around the streets of his constituency.Sir Malcolm’s political opponents may have an objection or two to this, but one thing they can not claim is that inexperience led him to the conclusions. At the age of 61, he has been active for the Conservatives for more than 30 years, but still enjoys the challenges in politics. He said:
“My favourite part of the day is arriving at work in the morning, raring to take on the government to task on behalf of the people of Kensington and Chelsea.”
But it is not only the quiet part of the job Sir Malcolm takes pleasure in.
“Ken Livingstone often has some explaining to do as well.” He adds thereby implying that he actually enjoys his many political fights with the Labour Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.
New conflicts come up regularly, and right now one of the most debated topics in London is the environmental concern regarding private transport. Sir Malcolm does admit that the “Chelsea Tractor” could be made more environment friendly. But he maintains that the criticism of the car, which he says is “indispensable to many families”, is not going to change his mind on the subject.
“Until the London transport system improves, I would expect people to hold on to their cars!”
He states making it clear that the Mayor of London has to make changes before he will ask his constituents to.
This attitude has brought Sir Malcolm a considerable share of success since he began his political career in 1970 as a local councillor in Edinburgh. During the Thatcher Government he was appointed Secretary of State for Defence and Foreign Secretary. Afterwards he got knighted in recognition of his public service.
But during Labour's landslide general election victory in 1997, Sir Malcolm Rifkind lost his Edinburgh Pentlands seat in Parliament. While this did not end his political career, it took him to a new constituency. In 2004 he got elected to represent the Kensington and Chelsea Constituency. Thus, turbulent changes have affected Sir Rifkind’s professional life but apparently nothing to put him off course.
“Every day in politics is different,” he calmly concludes.
He states making it clear that the Mayor of London has to make changes before he will ask his constituents to.
This attitude has brought Sir Malcolm a considerable share of success since he began his political career in 1970 as a local councillor in Edinburgh. During the Thatcher Government he was appointed Secretary of State for Defence and Foreign Secretary. Afterwards he got knighted in recognition of his public service.
But during Labour's landslide general election victory in 1997, Sir Malcolm Rifkind lost his Edinburgh Pentlands seat in Parliament. While this did not end his political career, it took him to a new constituency. In 2004 he got elected to represent the Kensington and Chelsea Constituency. Thus, turbulent changes have affected Sir Rifkind’s professional life but apparently nothing to put him off course.
“Every day in politics is different,” he calmly concludes.
Reflective report
The profile of Sir Malcolm Rifkind was an assignment in Central Government, and it was to be aimed at a local newspaper. I chose the angle on Sir Rifkind’s view on the “Chelsea Tractors” because I thought this would be something everybody in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, including Sir Rifkind, had a strong opinion about.
Thus, selecting the angle was not a problem, however, getting hold of Sir Rifkind was. Having done some research into his life and career, I called his secretary. But she was reluctant to promise me a phone interview with Sir Rifkind within my time limit. I therefore chose to write my questions down in an email to her and asked her to either send them to Sir Rifkind or email a timeslot within which I could call him. This turned out to be the right approach, and I received the answers by email just in time.
I used the quote in the intro as a “hook” to catch the reader’s attention. But I also wanted to present the fact that Sir Rifkind is an experienced and famous politician early in the article so as to get the reader to continue reading.
I am aware of the fact that you would not use a quote in an intro to a hard news story, but as this style is commonly used in profiles, I chose to do it this way.
When writing the article I aimed at a factual but warm, personal tone to make the readers relate to their MP and his work. The length of the article was decided in the assignment description, and I chose to keep it this way but lightened it a bit by putting some of the facts in a separate fact-box. This enabled me to include both more opinions and facts without slowing down the pace of the article.
Thus, selecting the angle was not a problem, however, getting hold of Sir Rifkind was. Having done some research into his life and career, I called his secretary. But she was reluctant to promise me a phone interview with Sir Rifkind within my time limit. I therefore chose to write my questions down in an email to her and asked her to either send them to Sir Rifkind or email a timeslot within which I could call him. This turned out to be the right approach, and I received the answers by email just in time.
I used the quote in the intro as a “hook” to catch the reader’s attention. But I also wanted to present the fact that Sir Rifkind is an experienced and famous politician early in the article so as to get the reader to continue reading.
I am aware of the fact that you would not use a quote in an intro to a hard news story, but as this style is commonly used in profiles, I chose to do it this way.
When writing the article I aimed at a factual but warm, personal tone to make the readers relate to their MP and his work. The length of the article was decided in the assignment description, and I chose to keep it this way but lightened it a bit by putting some of the facts in a separate fact-box. This enabled me to include both more opinions and facts without slowing down the pace of the article.
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