Broxtowe was always Conservative up to 1997 and it’s been a target for them for a long time. A few years ago, Lord Ashcroft and his team identified it with Gedling as twin priorities: the two seats are in outer Nottingham and the only marginals in Nottinghamshire. Two full-time Tory organisers were appointed and there has been a steady flow of high-gloss literature to constituents, as well as a great deal of phone canvassing – Tory sources tell me their contact rate is well over 60 per cent. They’ve also had £100,000 from a local businessman.
We’ve responded by organising an insurgent army of volunteers. I send a weekly email update which is generally seen as useful rather than tedious propaganda (the same approach that Lib Dems use with Focus newsletters about local areas) and 10 per cent of all homes in Broxtowe have signed up for a weekly update. I appealed for help against the tide of money, and have had over 200 people (in addition to party members) come forward to offer to help deliver leaflets.
I’m now writing targeted leaflets to constituents with known interests (all pensioners, for instance, and anyone who has contacted me over the party’s environment policies) and if we could raise £1000 it would fund 10,000 well-printed letters to be delivered to the target homes in the coming weeks – please visit our website here to donate and help us win in Broxtowe.
Candidate: Nick Palmer
Seat: Broxtowe
Currently held by: Labour
Majority: 2267(notional)
Candidate website: www.nickpalmer.info
Donate here