Local Council Elections 2014: write-up

[pookatimes]

I've had a few people so far congratulating me on doing well in the local council elections of May 22nd. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but the result I got doesn't really merit much congratulation.

As the Wikipedia entry states, the Green Party fielded at least one candidate in every ward, putting us ahead of UKIP and the BNP (and the Lib Dems

Comments

[ext_2616107]

Its worth remembering that the turnout was MUCH lower this year than in 2010 - numbers of votes are not directly comparable. Our experience since 2006 suggests that national factors matter more than local ones or the character and energy of the candidates. In this case UKIP, and the media attention to UKIP, was the major natioinal factor.

The Green Party nationally needs to learn some lessons from UKIP - mostly about finding a few simple msgs and plugging them hard.

Meanwhile every Green sympathiser should join the party and contribute to the next campaign.

[ext_2616322]

Hey Benji, enjoyed your blog entry.

By standing a candidate in every ward we all managed to up the profile of the part locally. Douglas and Bill worked hard to get that all sorted but they still needed the people willing to put their names on the paper.

As David said, national press exposure makes a huge impact. In Town ward where I live, the 'kipper who had been kicked out of his own party for racist comments received more votes than his party comrade! Shows how much attention people pay! Depressing but amusing too.

Chin up and hopefully meet you at the next meeting on 19th.

Tom

[ext_2616858]

OK, I won't say congratulations but I will say "thank you". Putting Green Party leaflets through doors raises peoples awareness and likelihood to vote Green. We kept the Euro Green seat by 11,000 so every door knocked, stall worked on, leaflet delivered played it's party. Cheers, Laura.