Labour in Lewisham East was faced with a peculiarly well-funded Liberal Democrat campaign. Ultimately their challenge was seen off, and a healthy 6216 majority secured, by two factors. Campaigning for a general election began two years earlier – obviously not at the same intensity as in 2010, but all branches within the CLP campaigned with renewed vigour from 2008 onwards. We also had the good fortune of passing from an MP who was much admired in the constituency to a new local candidate who was also very highly thought of in the community.

A great deal of value was placed in massively improving and renewing the contact rate from a very early stage. Weekly phone canvassing sessions began in January ’08 and Lewisham’s Labour Group stepped up by compelling councillors to attend a set number of canvassing sessions per year. By the time of the short campaign, Lewisham East’s contact rate had improved markedly. Targeted campaigning, which would have been risky and speculative in 2008 became successful and accurate in 2010.

Leafleting was always seen as necessary rather than valuable (in the sense that voters notice its absence rather than value its presence), and was never more important than face-to-face contact. Our opposition seemed to take the opposite view and some of our members reported that they were receiving up to four pieces of literature per week at the height of the campaign. Though the temptation to rush to the risograph was strong, we stuck to our plans and were vindicated in our view that a ‘weight of paper’ campaign wouldn’t wash with the electorate.

Finally, when our locally based and campaign-minded MP stood down, the CLP sensibly chose to replace her with a locally based and campaign-minded local councillor. Having Heidi Alexander as a visible and local candidate with an existing profile went a long way in blunting the attacks of the opposition. Before the elections, Lewisham East was struggling with five wards (out of seven) with no Labour councillor. In 2010 there is only one ward with no Labour councillor. Starting the hard work early is not an original or inspiring call to arms but continuing with it will make Lewisham East safer still in the years ahead.

by Jamie Milne – Organiser & Agent, Lewisham East CLP