So, that’s it folks, we’re in the final furlong. The election notice was published on 22 March and Purdah is kicking in next week, and on 4 April the nominations for Council candidates will close (you still have a few days to run as a pro-development candidate).
The drudgery of delivering leaflets and election addresses and knocking on doors are upon us. If you live in an area where there is a council election, prepare for interruptions to EastEnders and Coronation street… At some point someone with a colourful rosette is bound to be darkening your doorstep and making promises to get your vote.
So, let us look at the main parties quickly:
Tories – If they are brave enough to knock on your door (they aren’t really doing that as a lot of voters shout at them because they are angry with the Government), they will be distancing themselves as much as possible from the Government… in fact they might not even have a blue rosette on. They will be focussing on the good that they have done and the name “Conservative” might be somewhere in the legal imprint in size 5 font. They will essentially beg you not to punish them for Boris’ parties and Liz Truss.
Labour – You heard it here first, this is not going to be a headline-grabbing landslide victory election for Labour. (No, I haven’t hit the cough mixture early). When (if) Labour knocks on your door they will tell you that they are “Not Tories and isn’t Keir Starmer wonderful”. In the south they won’t be all that busy (maybe one or two places) and you will see Labour a lot in the “red wall”, but the reality is that they will be “king makers” rather than “kings” as partners in ABC (anything But Conservative) coalitions in most places. It is the Shire elections… it’s not natural Labour territory.
LibDems – You are going to look at the election map on 5 May and it is going to be very yellow… The Shires are prone to LibDem dalliances… And in many councils, they will either win outright or be the biggest party and lead an ABC coalition. They are back in force in Local Government and they will tell you it is a “two horse race… vote for us, we are not the other guys”. It is a tried and tested message that works, and many people will vote for them to send a message to the Tory Government.
The Rest – Greens – harmless do-gooders, Reform UK – right-wing nutters, Independents – busybodies, Residents Association – parochial busybodies… etc.
So, what to do when they knock on your door and ask for your vote…
Make them squirm, see what you can extract from them! Things like “If I vote for you, will you come and mow my lawn every Saturday” or “If I vote for you, will you quash all my parking tickets”…
Ok, I jest. But do ask them where they stand on planning and house building. If they then expose themselves as the NIMBY Party candidate, then make it clear to them that you will vote against them for the candidate who is not a NIMBY.
See you on the doorstep!
Henry
