Ballot papers are now being sent out to Labour members across the UK as they cast their vote in the NEC elections. One of those hoping to be elected is Ruth Smeeth, a former parliamentary candidate for Burton and Uttoxeter.

Andrew Bettridge spoke to her to find out a little more about her and ask what she would bring if elected to the party’s National Executive Committee.

‘We need a strong voice on the NEC which represents all members, both in and outside of London, ensuring that the needs and wishes of the membership is at the heart of the party.

‘I am that voice,’ Ruth said with the determination and enthusiasm that will be needed if Labour are to defeat the Tories in 2015.

And since joining the party, as an energetic 16-year-old, she has always had that determination and enthusiasm in abundance.

This was best demonstrated when she stood as a parliamentary candidate at the 2010 general election for the constituency of Burton and Uttoxeter.

Ruth was sadly defeated but only by the national swing. She was regarded by many as the far superior candidate, canvassing almost every inch of the constituency.

Had any other candidate stood, many in the local party believe they would be facing a much bigger Conservative majority at the next election.

She said her experience as a parliamentary candidate helped her to understand the needs for local constituency parties such as Burton.

‘It gave me insight into the needs of local parties in terms of the support they need and the support they don’t,’ she explained.

‘Also it showed me the impact on local parties when we lose and the additional resources that members and activists need.

‘However, most of all, the result in Burton made it clear to that as a party we need to be ready to fight for every vote.’

Ruth, who now works for HOPE not hate, said it forced her to think about the needs of the party and how it operated to make sure Labour could win at the next general election.

Not only just up against the national swing, Ruth was up against Lord Ashcroft’s millions in Burton and Uttoxeter. The Ashcroft machine was clear for everyone to see across the constituency.

But she said matching the Tories’ millions alone would not bring them election triumph in 2015.

‘It’s not just about money; it is how you spend it and how we best utilise the wider Labour movement to deliver tangible gains across the country.

‘My priority if elected would be to make sure that the party has the things it needs to win the next election.’

In her election literature, Ruth has spoken of a ‘new relationship’ between the grassroots membership and the national party because she said there was disconnection between the two at times.

‘I think this is even more true in places which don’t have Labour councils or MPs,’ she commented.

‘We need to use new and old technologies to make sure that members ‘own’ our party and that they have a direct relationship with party HQ, both via the NEC and with our elected members.’

The NEC elections come off the back of some ‘cracking’ results in the local elections to quote Ed Miliband and morale is again high among many in the party.

‘It had a feel of ‘97 to it with Labour gain followed by Labour gain,’ Ruth said with a smile.

‘I think the results do show that we are united in our determination to make this a one-term ConDem government.

‘However, I am concerned about the low turnout, which shows quite how much work we still have to do.’

As well as a bad night for the coalition parties, the BNP and far-right had a night to forget which pleased Ruth, who has always been 100 per cent committed to the anti-fascist cause.

In her bid to be elected to the NEC, Ruth has been endorsed by some high-profile members of Labour’s shadow cabinet including shadow secretary of state for defence, Jim Murphy MP and shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, Rachel Reeves MP.

Other endorsements for her have come from former chair of Burton and Uttoxeter Labour party, county councillor Peter Davies, and the general secretary of the GMB, Paul Kenny who also described her as a ‘committed trade unionist’.

She added: ‘I was delighted and totally overwhelmed by the amount of support I received from people across the country in my first attempt to get onto the NEC.

‘I have been active in the Labour party for as long as I can remember and the faith that people have placed in my candidature is incredible.’

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Andrew Bettridge is secretary of Burton CLP

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More about Ruth’s NEC election campaign can be found at www.ruthsmeeth.com and she can also contacted on Twitter @ruthsmeeth