THE CAMPAIGN: DAY 9
“Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.”
― Frida Kahlo
Change is coming to Calder Valley and never was that more evident than at last nights brilliant candidate selection event (kindly organised and hosted by Momentum Calderdale for their members). It was the embodiment of ‘a new kind of politics’: smart, relaxed and very human-centric. Gratitude everyone.
The three ‘change’ candidates (myself, Taiba and Maggie) were there (due to reasons beyond our control, the incumbent Joshua Fenton-Glynn was not — I would have very much preferred it if he was) but we each spoke and fielded many insightful and occasionally challenging questions from the floor. If I wasn’t campaigning on my own platform, I’d be voting for Taiba or Maggie.
A growing number of people are getting excited about Saturday’s vote, I think it’s fair to say that Craig Whittaker is probably not one of them.
The incumbent, Joshua Fenton-Glynn, campaigned hard for Owen Smith and against Jeremy Corbyn in 2016’s leadership election. It was a bold move that went against the views of the Labour party membership in general and Calder Valley in particular, according to my inbox, it was a move that has cost him deal of credibility.
I like Joshua, he’s a nice guy, a hard worker and solid councillor (win or lose on Saturday, I look forward to working with him) I just don’t think he’s got the skills and insight to take on and defeat Craig Whittaker with a workable majority.
For London Momentum to have endorsed his candidacy against the views of their own local membership, one hour into the campaign, has cost them a deal of credibility also.
For clarity: Calder Valley Momentum are not endorsing Joshua Fenton-Glynn.
Politics can be a perplexing business when information is kept out of the public domain - burying things takes them out of sight, but does not make the smell go away. Clumsy efforts to shore up the incumbent have greatly enhanced the position of ‘change’ candidates, by refocusing attention on:
- objective analysis of the recent GE results
- new ideas to engage, excite (video, print, public speaking)
- how well-organised a campaign can and should be
- our campaign ‘voice’, the need to win back working-class voters from the Tories
Last night was a great opportunity for all the ‘change’ candidates talk over ideas and the importance of measuring candidate and campaign performance in a kind and nuturing environment. Thanks everyone for making it happen.
