2015 General Election

  • And so the next stage in the journey begins . . .

    Sadly it isn’t a journey of engagement with a Labour led government, but a renewed period of opposition – lets hope it doesn’t become unduly introspective as we all endeavour to work out what worked, and what did not – and more importantly what’s required to win in 2020. As a Co-Founder of Labour: Coast…

  • Sympathy to all Agents!

    This is my first, perhaps only, foray into the role of Agent. This is for an excellent candidate in a safe Tory seat, with probably less than a dozen Labour activists across the whole sprawling constituency. No experience; no people; no money; no realistic hopes beyond unashamedly showing Labour’s colours and values to the heathen;…

  • Norwich North – the first seat of an overall majority!

    Friday and we join a mass of volunteers, the Progress team on their last ‘Final countdown’ campaign days and Jess Asato our candidate.  You can read more about her campaign here. Winning Norwich North and we are in overall majority territory so key to our national campaign as well as giving Labour voice to those who live in a…

  • Thanet South – A battleground seat if every there was one . . .

    Saturday and we joint a different bunch of local volunteers, comrades from Hope not Hate along with Will Scobie our candidate in the fight to see off ukip and their so called leader.  You can read more about his campaigning here. Once upon a time Thanet South wasn’t on our target list.  Now with the departure of the sitting Tory, and…

  • Swindon South | Target Seat 55

    Tuesday and it’s sunny Swindon to campaign for Anne Snelgrove and her team, along with a visit from Tristram Hunt – he’s also here to meet with local head teachers and explain further Labour’s policies for schools. Over the weekend the papers report current polling that has this seat neck and neck between us and…

  • To Beaconsfield and back again – every vote still counts!

    After the rigours of the Country Tour (some 650 miles supporting eight CLPs – from Lydney to Darwen) the tube and train swept me westward to spend Saturday supporting Tony Clements, our PPC for Beaconsfield (yes another Tony standing in that interesting part of Buckinghamshire!).  Given the response on the door-step and the street stalls…

  • Country Tour – Day 3 – The North

    A cool grey morning in the Midlands soon gives way to the sunny uplands of the Peak District as we head north to meet Caitlin Bisknell, PPC for High Peak, and her team. The rolling hills stretch out in every direction, occasionally interrupted by an aggregates quarry, a bright beacon on human industrial endeavour in…

  • The Country Tour, Day Two – The Midlands

    A misty start in Gloucester soon gives way to sunshine as we head towards Worcester, to meet Labour’s candidate Joyce and her team. So much sunshine by 10am that sun cream is required before we set out to Charlie’s Cafe to meet members and local people to discuss local issues, not least flooding. Worcester has…

  • The Country Tour – day one – Gloucestershire

    A glorious spring day, sunny with a gentle breeze, and lots of opportunities to meet with activists across the county. First stop Coleford to meet party activists in the Forest of Dean, including Labour’s PPC Steven Parry-Hearn, Baroness Royall, numerous party members, and other local activists including Free Miners and members of HOOF – Hands…

  • What Labour could do for Coast & Countryside Communities

    With the General Election campaign emerging from the festive break every Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) is rightly concerned with building on their exposure and contact rate in each and every constituency across the UK. For those fighting non-urban seats – be that the 30+ marginals we need to hold or win for a majority, the…