Each week a different PPC provides us with an insight into life as a candidate and gives us a flavour of their own campaign and interests. If you are a candidate and are keen to be featured, please email Jonathan Isaby.
This week’s diary is written by Nigel Huddleston, who has been candidate since November 2007 for Luton South, a seat where he has to overturn a notional Labour majority of 5,698. Nigel says that it is the most reliable bellwether seat in the country, with the winning party going on to form the government in every election since 1951. Mired in the expenses scandal, sitting Labour MP Margaret Moran has announced she will be standing down at the next election and Labour are in the process of selecting a replacement while Moran remains on sick leave - although rumours persist that she may yet stand down and trigger a by-election. Meanwhile, just last week Esther Rantzen has indicated her intention to stand in the seat as an independent. If you would like to help Nigel's campaign or just want to stay updated on how things
are going, please email him or sign up to his
mailing list via his website.
Saturday July 25th The fun part of politics. Attending a local village day with the family (Luton South covers part of rural south Bedfordshire as well as the town). Bouncy castles, hook a duck, raffles and Pimms! Local community coming together, having fun and raising £4,000 for good causes. Sun shone, kids enjoyed it… A good day all round.
Cllr Ruth Gammons informs me of increasing concern about a proposed nearby housing development. She suggests we begin a campaign similar to the successful one to protect the green belt to the east of Luton from unwanted, central government imposed development. Our policy of scrapping regional spatial strategies and putting development decisions back in control of local authorities is striking a chord with voters.
Sunday July 26th
Constituency correspondence and admin fills the day: bus routes, traffic calming, knife crime, ASBOs, drugs, housing, CSA - and some alarming situations involving the police. Since Moran went AWOL three months, ago my caseload has increased dramatically and many people start by saying “I have tried to reach Margaret Moran, but…” As I respond to more and more of these letters I become increasingly angry about Moran’s neglect of her constituents. I write an open letter to Margaret Moran highlighting that her constituents have lost confidence in her, that - for whatever reason - she is not fulfilling even the most basic of her duties, and should stand down as an MP immediately.
Monday July 27th
Meet with Chris Scott and Kate Vaughan at CCHQ alongside my fellow candidate for Luton North, Jeremy Brier. Discuss Euro results (we were neck and neck with Labour) and campaign strategy for the next few months. Good meeting.
Afternoon: local press and radio call regarding my letter to Moran. Booked to talk on Three Counties Radio in the morning. Late home as busy day preparing to kick off a new client project tomorrow as part of my ‘day job’ - with the same professional services firm where [Norwich North MP] Chloe Smith used to work.
Tuesday July 28th
Radio interview with Stephen Rhodes regarding Moran goes well. The chairman of the local Labour Party struggles desperately to defend Moran.
Mid morning John Young, Luton Campaign Director, calls to say Esther Rantzen has just announced on live TV (where else?) she is definitely going to stand in Luton South. I immediately send out a press release - tweaking one I had already prepared in anticipation of such an announcement. Welcomes Rantzen standing as it increases choice for voters, questions why in Luton South, though - given that Moran is standing down - and emphasises that the only way to guarantee change and get rid of Brown is to vote Conservative. A vote for any other party or candidate risks five more years of Labour.
Within minutes am bombarded with texts, calls and emails and requests for interviews. We all know the rules: local first – which I know p’d off some of the national media.
Wednesday July 29th
Early morning local radio again. ‘Becoming a regular visitor’ says Stephen Rhodes when introducing me. No bad thing, surely, to be the default commentator on Luton politics? Relieved that one of the other announced Independent candidates (yes, there are at least two others) was finally getting some airtime, too.
Rantzen all over, constantly underplaying how well she will do… saying she may lose her deposit. Interesting strategy - to position oneself as the underdog while simultaneously courting massive media attention. Meanwhile, the bookies still have me as favourite to win, but that surely factors in a ‘Rantzen won’t really stand’ element.
Thursday July 30th
A pattern is emerging whereby the national media are being much more critical and cynical about Esther standing than the local media - who are far more sympathetic and supportive. Good for circulation/ listeners I suppose.
Receiving a lot of support in emails from across the country, but a few people asking why I’m being ‘nasty’ asking Esther why she has chosen to stand in Luton. Surely not unreasonable? Ms Rantzen has not exactly shown herself to be a master of local knowledge. Not only did she first kick off her campaign in a school in the wrong constituency, but when asked how many passengers went through Luton Airport (one of the largest local employers) she said 185,000 – wrong by a mere 9.8 million! I suspect even Esther will admit she is not best placed to promote Luton and secure local jobs. A Vauxhall worker emailed me: “What on earth would the new owners of GM Europe or the German Government think if on the other side of the negotiating table they were faced with a former TV celebrity instead of a representative of the British Government?”
I don’t doubt for one minute, however, that Esther Rantzen has a genuine concern for the ignored and neglected in society. But the job of an MP is much more than a glorified social worker and Esther doesn’t have a monopoly on social concerns.
Friday July 31st
Busy day at work. Most of the time I manage to compartmentalize my life - politics; work; home - quite well. But in weeks like this, that’s hard.
Evening: House Meeting in Round Green area of Luton. Major issues with suspected Bail Hostel on their street and (related) drug issues. As always, nice, sensible, down to earth group of people who are not typical Tory voters but who are really angry about this Government. Feel completely betrayed and let down.
Saturday August 1st Meet up with local activist, Ali Islam, and walk around the Biscot area of Luton, talking to shoppers and visiting local businesses. People are struggling with bills and losing their jobs, but the area is holding up remarkably well – especially compared to other parts of the country where shops are closing down and boarding up. Local shopkeeper Shalim Ahmed (pictured) said this was due to the fact that customers are loyal and the prices are competitive. Plus the culture of borrowing is different so not as many businesses are in serious debt to the banks. Some lessons to be learnt here…
Later on I meet Fazilat Khan and colleagues at the Centre for Youth and Community Development where I learn about a whole range of great schemes underway to help entertain local youths, enhance language skills and general wellbeing. Also meet representatives from the Bangladeshi High Commission who are holding a session at the Centre.
Not a single mention of Esther all day. I ask Ali why? “Because hardly anyone in this community knows who she is, and those who do, don’t know what she stands for.” Interesting.
So - my prediction? Rantzen will stand, fragment the vote further and Labour will hope to retain the seat with 30-35% of the vote. But they won’t. I will win (albeit just) and Esther, far from being ‘humiliated’, will get more than 5,000 votes – taking largely from the Lib Dems and disgruntled former Labour voters - while the Tory vote holds up, expands and turns out.
We will win because we have a solid track record of local campaigning, because in contrast to my opponents I will actually be able to deliver on my promises, and because we have a positive message of hope and change that is resonating – even in parts of Luton that Labour previously took for granted.
And if I should lose to Esther? Well – I’m sure I can always get a job as a BBC TV presenter.
Last week's Diary was written by Richard Merrin, PPC for Hornsey and Wood Green.
