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 Jessica Lee, who was selected in March 2007
for the Derbyshire constituency of Erewash, where Labour MP Liz Blackman announced earlier this month that she will not defend the seat at the general election. Jessica, who grew up locally, is a family law barrister. The seat was held for the Conservatives by Angela Knight until 1997
when the seat fell to Labour and, on paper, Jessica requires
a swing of 7.83% to gain the seat - although the arithmetic
here is slightly confused by the fact that Robert Kilroy-Silk stood under
the Veritas banner at the 2005 election.
Monday 18th January I am off to a flying start to my week with a run of meetings and some campaigning on Monday. I spend the morning at the Association office writing election literature, planning constituency visits and reviewing our canvassing strategy with my agent, Allison Maguire. The sitting Labour MP has recently announced that she will stand down at the general election, but there is no decision as yet as to who will run as the Labour candidate. We are joined by the association chairman, Geoff Smith, for his input too.
This is also a useful opportunity for me to consider the latest batch of survey replies from local residents and consider what issues are raised. Issues such as fear of unemployment and helping young people in Erewash feature in the replies. We have delivered and sent thousands of surveys in the last year and the response rate has been overwhelming. People are replying and saying that they fed up with Gordon Brown and are ready for change in Erewash.
I have a meeting with Cllr Chris Corbett, the leader of the Conservative-run borough council in Erewash to review borough matters. I drop in at ProStart in Long Eaton today. This is a much-needed skills and training resource in Erewash. I am keen to support ProStart and similar organisations in their efforts to help people get back into work. I am returning to ProStart soon for a meeting, which will hopefully enable me to channel some further support and guidance for the work that they do.
The afternoon is a visit to the Erewash Partnership organisation in Ilkeston. This is a successful umbrella organisation that links together the local business community, the local authority and the voluntary sector. They have an Enterprise Centre for training and they offer many courses and networking opportunities throughout the year to help the business community. The organisation is politically neutral and will host visits across the board, but the Partnership are helping to host a visit from Adam Afriyie MP, Shadow Minster for Innovation and Science, next week. A meeting with Ian Viles, the Chief Executive is a useful review of the details of the visit and general preparations for next week.
Next stop for me is a meeting with the campaign fundraising team all of whom have done a sterling job in the last year, raising the thousands of pounds that are needed to run the general election campaign. We plan the structure for the final main fundraising event and I leave the finer details in the capable hands of the team: Pam, Julian, Rosie (my mum!) and Lynne. The rest of the day is a drive into work to collect the final papers for my trial the next day and then home for homework! It’s a case of burning the midnight oil tonight in preparation for work tomorrow.
Tuesday 19th January
Tuesday is work for me. I’m a barrister specialising in child protection work and represent families, children and authorities mainly in the East and West Midlands. I am passionate and committed to the work that I do. I whole heartedly concur with every speech and comment that David Cameron makes regarding a broken society and the need to assist families struggling with family breakdown, addictions, debt, educational failure and poverty. Working on the coal face with such families, I am committed to supporting Conservative proposals to try and help the families for whom the cycle of poverty continues on. After a long day in court it’s a meeting with Wayne from the campaign team to crack on with some telephone canvassing and plan the remaining sessions before the election.
Wednesday 20th January
Another day in court for me (I hope that candidates who have been able to stop work in the run-up to the election appreciate how lucky they are!) and then dash home before an important meeting in the evening. There are plans to build a Tesco store in Sandiacre, located in Erewash. Many local residents have raised their concerns with me regarding this proposal and the meeting with representatives from Tesco is heated and vocal!
I voice my concerns on the traffic burden and the risk to the many local shops located in the centre of Sandiacre as well as the need to consult fully with the local community. Following the presentation I am able to discuss the issues further with a number of residents. The evening ends with taking my agent Allison for her belated Christmas meal, as a thank-you for all her good work. We have both struggled with diaries/family commitments etc to find a window for this meal but have a great time and conclude that it is worth the wait!
Thursday 21st January
Thursday brings the inevitable day in court for me but then it’s canvassing in the evening. We have a successful session and gain more pledges to be added to our database. The evening ends with a late appearance at the Erewash Canal Society meeting, located at the Lock Cottage next to Sandiacre Lock. Erewash has a long and proud history of canals and they are a real feature of our local community. The Canal Society do a fantastic job I maintaining the historic cottages and the meeting is well attended. A very late supper with my husband and I then work into the night on my preparation for work the next day.
Friday 22nd January
The morning brings a precious couple of hours of work in the Association office, writing literature, dealing with questions from constituents, and catching up with my agent and campaign director. Good news arrives from the new, neighbouring constituency of Mid Derbyshire, where the Conservatives held a by-election ward yesterday. Congratulations to the team there. I then head off for a court hearing in the afternoon.
The evening brings a meeting with a local resident reviewing her flourishing, internet based business and I offer what support and suggestions that I can. It’s then back into work in the evening to collect paperwork for the next week. Finally, home to family for a late meal and Skype with friend Tom who has woken up to a beautiful sunny day in Sydney, Australia. Nice. I try not to dwell on the rainy day we’ve had here in Erewash!
Saturday 23rd January
Saturdays are always a busy campaigning day for our team here in Erewash. Tens of thousands of leaflets, letters and surveys have been delivered and doors knocked on and canvassed over the last year and I am really grateful for everyone’s hard work and graft. This Saturday is no different and the team does a sterling effort in campaigning.
I add in a training seminar to my Saturday too before my husband and I drive down in the evening to the south coast to see some friends. I have three godchildren, one of whom is being baptised in the morning and we are off to see little Ranulph (aged 2) and his family. We have a much needed, relaxing evening over dinner cooked by our hosts Catherine and Alistair!
Sunday 24th January Sunday morning begins with Ranulph’s baptism service, which goes brilliantly, and then it’s a celebratory brunch hosted by the family. My husband and I drive back up to Erewash reflecting on the great time that we’ve had and I deal with a few emails and read some homework on the way!
It’s an evening of preparation for court tomorrow and review of my Erewash activities for the forthcoming week. I have now been the PPC for Erewash for nearly three years, after being selected in an open primary back in 2007 and look forward to the new challenges that every week brings. I am ready for another week of campaigning and meeting voters in Erewash, as the election is fast approaching.
> Last week's Diary was written by Damian Collins, PPC for Folkestone and Hythe
