It’s all to play for in Sweden

By Brian Duggan

Today, voters in Sweden go to the polls. They will be testing a one term Conservative-Liberal coalition and the opposition Social Democrats will be hoping to bounce back to power after one term out of office. There is certainly a lot Labour can and should learn from Sweden.

The Young Fabians and Young Labour have sent 15 campaigners here to help Mona Salin’s Social Democrats win back office and to work with and learn from our colleagues in the SSU, the youth organisation of the Social Democratic Party.

We’ve been campaigning by day and night in Stockholm Central for the local, regional and national elections which take place on Sunday.

Late Sunday night, we’re all hoping for a win for the Red Green coalition, with Mona Salin elected as Sweden’s first ever woman Prime Minister.

Sweden’s multi-party system means coalitions of government and opposition are the norm and a stable policy and campaigning pact between the major blocks is framing this election. When voters go to the polls, they will vote for their proffered party and know their likely coalition partners. It certainly seems miles away from the Cabinet Office discussions in the aftermath of May 6th.

For the Social Democrats the campaign has been about driving a relationship of personal contact with voters, keen to reconnect after their loss of power in 2006 and move on. They are focussing hard on framing the debate on policies they know will work in their favour, unemployment levels, welfare cuts, economic inequality and of course their opponents plans for tax cuts for the wealthy few.

The mood and momentum around the Social Democrats is extremely positive. Recent polling shows them taking back ground and the narrative is fresh, positive, forward looking and, most crucially of all, focused.

It’s been a real learning experience for all the Young Fabians and Young Labour members. There’s a lot we will take back home. In the meantime, there are leaflets to deliver and doors to knock on – it’s all to play for.