Short answer: Successfully… because on the basis of your manifesto and your campaign you win
Long answer: by showing you are the best government-in-waiting.
I’m a Birmingham MP. I was elected in 1997 as part of the Labour landslide. Birmingham Edgbaston had never been Labour before. It was a seat we had to win to form the government.
Lesson one: success is getting people to vote for you who had done so in the past as well as a lot of others who have not done so before
We had a Labour government that delivered. I worked hard as an MP. My CLP worked even harder. We fought local elections with the same vigour and energy we fought the general election. We knew that having an MP here was essential to ensure we had a Labour government. In 2001 and 2005 we didn’t lose.
Lesson two: When in government, don’t lose the local party structure, but focus on remaining in government
By 2010 all of my 12 local councillors were Tories. The opposition was so confident that the Labour MP was ‘toast’ that instructions were issued to go and campaign somewhere else. On the night we won by over 1200 votes – because we had a volunteer base and a ‘Labour national + plus strong local input’ campaign.
Lesson three: Campaign as a Labour … but offer a local dimension which makes you ‘Labour Plus’ and remember it’s your volunteer base which knocks on doors, delivers leaflets and calls on people – they are also your ambassadors.
We won in Edgbaston – but we lost nationally.
Labour is in opposition – the game changes. Remember you’ve lost. Being a good opposition is important – but it’s only a necessary condition. Don’t allow single issue pressure groups to take over. Reach out to wider groups, even those who in the past have disagreed with you. Their views are important too.
Lesson four: Focus on being the next government. Attack the incumbent, oppose, but be selective. The prize is to show that we would be better for the country as a whole.
There is coalition government. They do all sorts of silly things, hiding behind the blanket excuse for breaking promises by talking about the ‘coalition agreement’ and ‘the coffers were empty’. It’s easy to be against what they are doing and even easier to fall into the trap of cornering yourself into policies which come the next general election you come to regret.
Lesson five: Remember 1992. We made so many promises which the Tories simply added up and said ‘this is how much a Labour government will cost you’. So when in opposition – be careful what you promise and don’t do it too early.
The 1997 Labour landslide was underpinned by a pledge card of five (with hindsight) modest pledges. The trouncing in 1983 was accompanied by the most extensive and detailed manifesto.
Lesson six: Your election promises have to be short, sharp and easily understood. Don’t get bogged down by detail.
We lost in 2010 after 13 years in government. Doing less is more. Take a deep breath. Look at every area of policy without making judgements. Talk to your base – party members, supporters as well as those who disagree with you! Don’t be held back by out of date assumptions. Define your values and policies will flow from that.
Lesson seven: Remember that in opposition your base for recovery is local government. Listen to people and re-evaluate what the party stands for.
The meeting in Birmingham is part of the process of pulling together local councillors, MPs, party members and supporters. Listen to their priorities, what they think the Labour party’s values should be – successful policies will flow from that. But it will take time and there are no short cuts!
God I hope your wrong another new labour government would end this country. nope sorry your right opposition suits you
Lie detectors for benefit cheats fail test The Department for Work and Pensions has dropped plans for lie detectors to be used to analyse phone calls from people applying for, or updating existing claims for, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Income Support and Jobseeker’s Allowance. Read more here. Another solid good move by the Tories.
Good article Gisela & it was evident that you offered that local dimension that every MP should- after all at general election time all voters are directly voting for is for someone to be their local MP. As much as I think you’re an asset to the city of Birmingham as an MP I must admit I’m rather disappointed you are so strongly against the much-needed electoral reform that the Alternative Vote could bring though. FPTP has been proven time & again at recent elections to fall way short in terms of good representation of the votes cast, both at constituency & national level- we need to change this broken system & this May’s referendum may be our only chance for decades.
“Birmingham Edgbaston had never been Labour before. It was a seat we had to win to form the government.” Erm…you do know Labour has formed (far more effective) governments before 1997?!
Lesson six: “talk to your base – supporters as well as those who disagree with you!” As a Labour Party member I recently emailed you disagreeing with your critical comments of Jack Straw’s behaviour in the case of al Megrahi’s release. Your reply was “I’m glad you saw the programme”. Is this your definition of “talking to your base” and “talking to those who disagree”? Also, my memory of your contributions during Gordon Brown’s PMQs is that you spent most of your energy criticizing the Labour government yet being virtually silent in criticizing Tory or Lib Dem policies!