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A moment that changed me – being picked to fight Cheltenham for Labour A moment that changed me – fulfilling a promise to Granddad by standing for Labour
(about 4 hours later)
On 24 January 2015 I was selected by the Cheltenham Labour party to be its candidate in the general election. The next 104 days to the election night on 7 May fulfilled a 38-year-old promise.On 24 January 2015 I was selected by the Cheltenham Labour party to be its candidate in the general election. The next 104 days to the election night on 7 May fulfilled a 38-year-old promise.
In the 1970s I was a shy, thin-as-a-rake teenager from a loving but ordinary home, and I was a little bit frightened of everything. Mum and Dad were wonderfully encouraging, although my grandmother once memorably warned them that “no good will come of spending all that time with his head in books”.In the 1970s I was a shy, thin-as-a-rake teenager from a loving but ordinary home, and I was a little bit frightened of everything. Mum and Dad were wonderfully encouraging, although my grandmother once memorably warned them that “no good will come of spending all that time with his head in books”.
I spent many joyful hours with my dear old granddad. We used to walk around his garden talking about steam engines (he was a retired railwayman), and I’d spend long summer afternoons in his shed listening to his stories. He told me about being a boy my age in a world before the NHS, when children like me left school at 14, and when having no money broke up families. One day he shared a worry that I might do all this study and forget I had a granddad like him. He worried my family might not be good enough for me.I spent many joyful hours with my dear old granddad. We used to walk around his garden talking about steam engines (he was a retired railwayman), and I’d spend long summer afternoons in his shed listening to his stories. He told me about being a boy my age in a world before the NHS, when children like me left school at 14, and when having no money broke up families. One day he shared a worry that I might do all this study and forget I had a granddad like him. He worried my family might not be good enough for me.
So I made him a promise; I’d never forget his story and one day I would become a Labour politician, so that my granddad would know that the people he cared about were the people I cared about too. A bold promise for a 15-year-old boy, and it took many years to attempt it.So I made him a promise; I’d never forget his story and one day I would become a Labour politician, so that my granddad would know that the people he cared about were the people I cared about too. A bold promise for a 15-year-old boy, and it took many years to attempt it.
So, it’s 24 January 2015, I am 53, no longer thin-as-a-rake, but still more than a little bit frightened on selection day. After a morning of presentations and questions, I congratulated the other candidates. They were credible, knew policy and were active. I had not been to a political meeting since I was a student and knew hardly anything about policy. It would not be me. The chairman announced the result of the vote: “With more than 50% of the votes, Paul, it’s you!”So, it’s 24 January 2015, I am 53, no longer thin-as-a-rake, but still more than a little bit frightened on selection day. After a morning of presentations and questions, I congratulated the other candidates. They were credible, knew policy and were active. I had not been to a political meeting since I was a student and knew hardly anything about policy. It would not be me. The chairman announced the result of the vote: “With more than 50% of the votes, Paul, it’s you!”
I made it a goal to learn something from every conversation with everyone I metI made it a goal to learn something from every conversation with everyone I met
The shock I felt was real, the terror even more so, but a day later I knew I could not waste the opportunity. I might be a hopeless candidate, but we could still make a difference.The shock I felt was real, the terror even more so, but a day later I knew I could not waste the opportunity. I might be a hopeless candidate, but we could still make a difference.
Labour doesn’t win seats like Cheltenham; our 2,700 votes in 2010 meant we just hung on to our deposit. Campaigning isn’t encouraged. The party wants activists to campaign in neighbouring winnable seats. No admin support, no special funding, no A-list visitors for photo calls. We realised we’d have to define winning in a different way. Winning would be making a difference to as many people as possible and having a different style of campaign. We set out to learn from our opponents. They had many qualities and being tribal only closes the mind.Labour doesn’t win seats like Cheltenham; our 2,700 votes in 2010 meant we just hung on to our deposit. Campaigning isn’t encouraged. The party wants activists to campaign in neighbouring winnable seats. No admin support, no special funding, no A-list visitors for photo calls. We realised we’d have to define winning in a different way. Winning would be making a difference to as many people as possible and having a different style of campaign. We set out to learn from our opponents. They had many qualities and being tribal only closes the mind.
I also knew I had to be myself. Thousands of people might publicly disagree with me and I might fail, but try to be someone else and I’d definitely fail. I had to be completely honest. I talked about my shortcomings and those of past Labour administrations, because you cannot ask people to believe in you if you are in denial about your weaknesses. I tried to be positive, and not just when it suited me. I praised candidates for points I agreed with, and praised their qualities as candidates when I did not agree with their positions.I also knew I had to be myself. Thousands of people might publicly disagree with me and I might fail, but try to be someone else and I’d definitely fail. I had to be completely honest. I talked about my shortcomings and those of past Labour administrations, because you cannot ask people to believe in you if you are in denial about your weaknesses. I tried to be positive, and not just when it suited me. I praised candidates for points I agreed with, and praised their qualities as candidates when I did not agree with their positions.
Related: A moment that changed me – the day I discovered protest | Ellie Mae O’HaganRelated: A moment that changed me – the day I discovered protest | Ellie Mae O’Hagan
I made it a goal to learn something from every conversation with everyone I met. There is more insight gained from listening than presenting. Every day was an unremitting barrage of messages to present; but no politician has a monopoly on wisdom. In conversation we learn and engage. An absolute joy of the campaign was the opportunity to truly listen; but having listened, it was crucial to act. Not grand words, but small actions; like staying a little longer than planned, or sending a thoughtful hand-written note to follow-up. It might just be a hug. Just act; it brings us closer to being useful.I made it a goal to learn something from every conversation with everyone I met. There is more insight gained from listening than presenting. Every day was an unremitting barrage of messages to present; but no politician has a monopoly on wisdom. In conversation we learn and engage. An absolute joy of the campaign was the opportunity to truly listen; but having listened, it was crucial to act. Not grand words, but small actions; like staying a little longer than planned, or sending a thoughtful hand-written note to follow-up. It might just be a hug. Just act; it brings us closer to being useful.
By election night, despite having no funding and no paid admin, our volunteer team had grown from three or four to nearly 20. We had walked, talked, listened and delivered. We had connected with thousands of people and I know we made a difference to many of them.By election night, despite having no funding and no paid admin, our volunteer team had grown from three or four to nearly 20. We had walked, talked, listened and delivered. We had connected with thousands of people and I know we made a difference to many of them.
I kept my promise to my granddad, as a thank you for his inspiration; a great man whom I loved very much. As for the election result, we didn’t win, but we increased our vote by 44% and beat UI kept my promise to my granddad, as a thank you for his inspiration; a great man whom I loved very much. As for the election result, we didn’t win, but we increased our vote by 44% and beat U
kip. In the grand scheme of political endeavour the result is irrelevant, but for me it was enriching, empowering, humbling and joyful.kip. In the grand scheme of political endeavour the result is irrelevant, but for me it was enriching, empowering, humbling and joyful.