RoverAndOut

For Whom the Division Bell Tolls: 1. Alistair Carmichael - LD, Orkney and Shetland 2. Nick Clegg - LD, Sheffield Hallam 3. Zac Goldsmith - Con, Richmond Park 4. David Cameron - Con, Witney 5. Sir Roger Gale - Con, Thanet North 6. Ken Clarke - Con, Rushcliffe 7. Geoffrey Robinson - Lab, Coventry North West 8. Alex Salmond - SNP, Gordon 9. Paul Flynn - Lab, Newport West 10. Cheryl Gillan - Con, Chesham and Amersham 11. Ronnie Campbell - Lab, Blyth Valley 12. Paul Blomfield - Lab, Sheffield Central 13. Glyn Davies - Con, Montgomeryshire 14. Nicola Blackwood - Con, Oxford West and Abingdon 15. Gregory Campbell - DUP, East Londonderry 16. Mickey Brady - Sinn Fein, Newry and Armagh 17. Sir David Winnick - Lab, Walsall North 18. Christopher Chope - Con, Christchurch 19. Jim Cunningham - Lab, Coventry South 20. Sir Alan Haselhurst - Con, Saffron Walden 21. Michael Meacher - Lab, Oldham West and Royton 22. Barry Sheerman - Lab, Huddersfield 23. Sir Nicholas Soames - Con, Mid Sussex 24. Owen Patterson - Con, North Shropshire 25. Dame Angela Watkinson - Con, Hornchurch and Upminster 26. Grant Shapps - Con, Welwyn Hatfield 27. Madeleine Moon - Lab, Bridgend 28. Nadine Dorries - Con, Mid Bedfordshire 29. John Woodcock - Lab, Barrow and Furness 30. Guy Opperman - Con, Hexham Nearly had a cheeky punt on Nigel, as I'm almost certain if anyone can get in and out of Parliament within 5 years it would be him (SO many possibilities!) but decided it was probably not sporting to pick a non-Parliamentarian. Interesting to know everyone's reasoning, I'm guessing some have highly speculative reasons attached to them.

I chose to take heed of the early advice that the Father of the House is generally indestructible. A quick glance at the previous Parliament's by-elections also reveals only 1 MP elected pre-1992 died (Sir Stuart Bell, Lab, Middlesbrough, '83 General) and only 3 over 70 died (Bell, Jim Dobbin and Alan Keen) and none at all over 80. It seems the Parliamentary Lifers are a pretty robust bunch. 12 of the 21 by-elections were for resignations, either for career advancement or career suicide and possible criminal proceedings. So those of you who've gone for crooks over stiffs have probably chosen wisely. Think I dithered between the two so will likely fail at both. My list of picks will be revealed forthwith.

Just Fontaine is STILL alive?! You never see him at any big FIFA events that I'm aware of, they usually make do with Pele. Then again, I'm guessing he must be pushing 100 and be pretty frail...

Also notable that Wilko Johnson makes it into 22nd place on their list. Apparently they take a more fatalistic view of his all-clear prognosis. Or maybe they know something we don't. Alternatively, maybe news just travels very slowly to Italy and they're wondering why there haven't been any new albums from that Pavarotti fellow in a few years...

Hello, Long-time admirer of the Deathlist from afar but never joined. Being a former student of politics, this particular thread piqued my interest such that I felt I should bite the bullet and use this as my introduction to the highs and lows of deathlist predicting. If I'm feeling brave, I may join in some of the mainstream Deadpools for 2016. Anyway, who knows if my 20 picks are any good, like the Grand National just stick a pin in and hope for the best is perhaps the easiest solution. Here's to 5 years of keeping an eye on the health and fortunes of our 650 Right Honourable (and in many cases Less Than Honourable) Members!