ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Shaun Bailey persuades Hammersmith businesses to emulate national letter-writing campaign against Labour's jobs tax

The opening week or so of the national election campaign saw a growing number of business leaders signing up to a letter attacking Labour's proposed rise in National Insurance - effectively a tax on jobs.

This week, Shaun Bailey, the energetic Conservative candidate for Hammersmith, decided to organise a similar initiative in his own constituency to show that local businesses there are just as concerned about the impact of the NI rise.

He has already secured the support of more than 50 Hammersmith small businesses and they are listed in full on his website.

Below is a video clip of Shaun talking about his initiative.

Jonathan Isaby

Tory attack ad in Hammersmith targets Labour MP Andrew Slaughter

A couple of weeks ago we noted how Shaun Bailey, the Conservative candidate for the newly drawn Hammersmith constituency, was stopped from having a public debate filmed by one of his campaign team by his Labour and Lib Dem opponents.

His Labour opponent is none other than Andrew Slaughter, who currently sits as MP for Ealing Acton and Shepherds Bush. Slaughter failed in his first bid to win election to the Commons at the Uxbridge by-election in 1997, at which point he was leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, a post he held until 2005 - a year before the Conservatives gained control of the Borough.

And it is his record as leader of the council that the Conservative campaign in Hammersmith is targeting in a new online attack ad, in the same way that the national party campaign attacked Gordon Brown last weekend:

Jonathan Isaby

Annesley Abercorn uses personalised billboards to alert Hazel Grove commuters to his campaign

An increasing number of candidates are now running personalised billboard campaigns in their constituencies. I highlighted those being used by Chris Philp in Hampstead and Kilburn at the end of last year and below are examples of the billboards that have gone up at stations in the Hazel Grove constituency advertising the candidacy of Annesley Abercorn in Hazel Grove.

Tim and I remain keen to highlight examples of good campaign ideas or literature which candidates are using on the ground. If you have ideas you want to share please email me or Tim.

Jonathan Isaby

Melanie Hampton is the latest candidate to advertise on the back end of a bus

We recently highlighted the ads on the back of buses in Batley and Spen forming part of the campaign being waged by Conservative candidate, Janice Small.

This means of getting the message across has also been adopted by Melanie Hampton in Mitcham and Morden - who has also just set up this new campaign website. There are currently five buses zipping around her constituency like the one pictured below.

Tim and I remain keen to highlight examples of good campaign ideas or literature which candidates are using on the ground. If you have ideas you want to share please email me or Tim.

Jonathan Isaby

Mark Reckless gives local shops free ad space on his website

Mark Reckless, our candidate in Rochester and Strood, has offered free advertising space on his website for local shops. He sees it as a practical demonstration of his support for the traditional high street. More here.

My own belief is that candidates and MPs should make their websites more and more about local issues and less and less about Conservative politics. We live in a time when the differences between newspapers and websites, political parties and campaigning organisations are dissolving. The websites of Tory MPs should become a focus for coverage of local community news and concerns. Mark Reckless has taken one sensible step towards that destination.

Tim Montgomerie

> If you have a 'campaign idea', such as a good leaflet or poster, that you would like to share with readers of ConservativeHome please email me or Jonathan.

Hammersmith PPC Shaun Bailey becomes first candidate to release an iPhone app

Hammersmith's Conservative candidate, Shaun Bailey, notches up a first today as he becomes the first candidate to release his own iPhone app.

The app - which you can download by clicking here - was developed by Alexander Trewby, a self-employed software engineer from the constituency, and features news and updates from Shaun, along with videos, contact information and links to other social media.

Shaun Bailey explains:

“Whether it’s knocking on doors, delivering literature, making campaign videos or developing iPhone apps, politics should be about connecting with people. Here in Hammersmith, broadband penetration is higher than the national average – we are truly a digitally connected community. A short walk down Hammersmith Broadway or around Shepherds Bush Green will show you that lots of people here are using iPhones. This app allows iPhone users to connect with our campaign in way that is familiar to them.

“As a candidate in Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush, I want to win people over with our ideas for change, not just how we communicate them. This application represents another way for us to get our message out. We need a change in the leadership of our country. I want to be part of that change.”

Tim and I remain keen to highlight examples of good campaign ideas or literature which candidates are using on the ground. If you have ideas you want to share please email me or Tim.

Jonathan Isaby

Former soldier Edward Legard explains why he wants to be Conservative MP for Darlington, where Alan Milburn is retiring

Another excellent campaign video.

Victoria Ayling in Great Grimsby ditches the Soap Box in favour of a Fish Box

Here is a picture of Victoria Ayling, the candidate for the fishing port that is Great Grimsby, who has swapped the traditional "Soap Box" for a "Fish Box". She says:

"It was custom made with the Conservative logo and imprint on it, and I appear around the Constituency,  stand on it and have impromptu question and answer sessions. In fact it is going down very well and some are nicknaming the box Victoria's Plaice..."

Tim and I remain keen to highlight examples of good campaign ideas or literature which candidates are using on the ground. If you have ideas you want to share please email me or Tim.

Jonathan Isaby

Twenty good reasons to vote Conservative... in Halifax

Tory PPC for Halifax, Philip Allott, has produced this video for his campaign to become the MP for Halifax. His twenty reasons to vote Conservative mix national and locval pledges.

Jonathan Isaby and I are keen to highlight other examples of good literature and other campaign ideas. If you have ideas you want to share please email me or Jonathan.

Tim Montgomerie

Janice Small puts her face on the back end of a bus

Yesterday we noted the excellent advert from South Ribble's Lorraine Fullbrook - which included a strong reference to the Conservative Party's immigration policy. Lorraine knows what she is doing. She achieved the best council results in the country for three years in a row.

I've had a dozen candidates get in touch to say they are now determined to ignore CCHQ and put references to immigration on their literature. One told me: "This is the issue on the doorstep and it's ridiculous that we can't mention it."

Jonathan Isaby and I are keen to highlight other examples of good literature and other campaign ideas. If you have ideas you want to share please email me or Jonathan.

Janice Small, our candidate in Batlery and Spen, sent in this image:

The image of the lovely Janice will appear on the back of ten buses for ten weeks and all paid for by local fundraising.

Tim Montgomerie