Not marginal but just as important

As part of our Campaign Diary series looking at the experiences of Young Fabians during this General Election, Tim Nicholls / @tim_nicholls argues that whilst all eyes are on the marginals we ignore seats like Southend at our peril…

So, the conversation usually goes something like this: “Southend? What’s the point? Hell’ll freeze over before the Tories lose there.”

Southend (which is split into two constituencies) is apparently safe territory for the Tories. More than once Tory candidates have very literally inherited the seat. But parts of Southend have unemployment at twice the national average and the difference in life expectancy between the rich and deprived parts of town is depressingly stark. The result is a political malaise in the town; progress at a national level does not translate to local action where it faces reticence and opposition from local decision makers.

So our role is to show that there is a positive alternative. On the doorstep, people hear this. Labour Councillors in the town are visibly hardworking, as are our PPCs: Kevin Bonavia and Tom Flynn – one, a former Young Fabian Chair, the other a former Exec member. In seats like Southend we’re the opposition, but we’re the opposition who actually want to make life better and fairer for all.

Southend residents don’t have any problem imagining what a Tory Government would look like. They see it and live it every day: failing public transport; a century-old market closed with 3 days’ notice; and the town centre’s pool closed. The response we get on the doorstep is increasingly that they would not wish it on the country. If people want better bus service; want local businesses supported; and decent accessible public amenities then the message from Southend is clear: vote for Labour.

In an election that is more than ever geared towards holding key seats, it may seem anathema to suggest devoting time to ‘safe Tory’ constituencies. And I may be biased: having grown up seeing Southend failed by its leaders. But I’m a member of the Labour party because I believe in our cause universally, not just in seats we already hold (vital though they are). I enjoy the fight in Southend: I think it should be Labour and I think we should be proud to fight for it.

Is it worth it? Well in 2005 in Rochford and Southend East, there was a swing from the Conservatives to Labour: just how many seats can say that?

If you got experiences from the front line of the campaign that you want to share then why not blog for us? Contact Vincenzo Rampulla at vrampulla@youngfabians.org.uk

How do you win a General Election?

Last night I ended up watching this fascinating programme on the BBC’s iPlayer about how television fundamentally changed the way politicians fought General Elections from the 50s. I’m a sucker for old election footage but the thing that really struck me was how politicians latched on to the belief all you had to do to win the election was to win the TV war – the electorate would follow.

Harold Wilson - the UK media politician?

It doesn’t seem so simple anymore.

You might think that New Media is the new TV but then you face the fact you’ll miss the 16 per cent of the population that have never been online. If you’re thinking that advertisement, TV and radio will win then remember – only 13 per cent of people trust politicians to tell the truth.

Even if you do get the average voters attention then you have to face up to the fact that 72 per cent think all the political parties are all the same. And even taking all that into account you’re faced with the hard reality that even if you’ve managed to get their attention and convince them that you’re telling the truth then you still have to get them to vote – almost 39 per decided it wasn’t event worth voting.

So the question for both parties still stands- In 2010 how do you actually win a General Election?

London Young Labour will be getting together tonight at the George (on the Strand) to have a good look at the issue and they’ve brought together three candidates that I think have a particularly interesting view of what the answer might be.

For an incumbent MP like Karen Buck this election is going to be a street by street battle in her constituency of Westminster North.  Despite a strong personal vote she is facing an opponent with huge resources and voters who are being constantly encouraged to ‘Vote for Change’.

The young candidate for Woking, Tom Miller, faces a very different challenge. How do you call for change locally but Labour nationally? How do you combat people’s apathy to politics and young people in general whilst still focusing on a campaign that is about policies and not just personalities?

Finally for a local candidate in Barking like Sam Tarry, who is also a Hope Not Hate organiser, what do you do if your main opponent isn’t the Tories but the BNP who are making Barking and Dagenham their battleground.

Douglas Alexander, Labour’s General Election Co-ordinator, has said that Labour should make this election it’s ‘word of mouth’ election.

“The Conservatives are fighting a broadcast election in a networked age. What we are going to offer is not a one-way communication, but one-to-one communication.”

The most important thing in a political campaign?

So the most important thing in campaigning is once again the campaigner: the activist on the doorstep, the person the voters actually get to meet face to face. But not all campaigning is the same, some are better than others.

That is why the Young Fabians are teaming up with the best election candidates and campaigners across London to learn the skills and get a proper insight into what makes a great campaign.

Our first session will be with PPC Stella Creasy and council candidate Mark Rusling this Saturday in Walthamstow.

If you are interested in joining us on the campaign trail, want to learn more about Young Fabian Campaign Sessions across London, or get details for this Saturday then contact Vincenzo Rampulla, vrampulla@youngfabians.org.uk