Winning against the odds

Everyone knew that Labour regaining control of Nottinghamshire County Council this year was a big ask. Labour had taken a drubbing four years before in 2009 and although results in the district council elections in 2011 and 2012 were strong for Labour, the Tories weren’t going to give up control of County Hall without a fight.

Election day itself was tense and tiring for all involved but the real suspense came the following day as every district in Nottinghamshire counted and declared their results. Throughout the morning it became clear that Labour was regaining seats from the Tories that we lost in 2009. However as the morning unfolded it also became clear we had failed to win back some seats from the Lib Dems and Tories that were key targets.

As it happened Gedling Borough was last in the county to declare its results – mainly because the turnout was higher than in other districts across the county, we also had a borough by-election count taking place that day.

As the results were declared across Nottinghamshire it became clear to Gedling Labour that we needed to win all eight seats within the boundary of Gedling constituency, Vernon Coaker’s seat.  Without the eight seats Labour would be denied an outright majority at County Hall. We had never achieved such a result before; the most we’d ever won at our absolute high point was six.

It is worth remembering that Gedling was a solid Tory constituency before Vernon’s victory in 1997 – it is a testament to him and team Labour in Gedling that he’s retained the seat ever since.

Gedling Borough Council, which covers the area of the eight county seats we needed plus two others in the Sherwood constituency, had also previously been one of the strongest Conservative-controlled councils in the country, with only a brief four year period of Labour control (majority of one) at Labour’s high-point in the late 1990s. Gedling Labour took control of Gedling Borough Council in 2011 with the biggest swing from the Tories in the country and accounting for 40% of the Tories total losses in the East Midlands that day.

The County Council results for Gedling came in….Carlton West was first to declare – a seat we already had two Labour county councillors in. This was a hold for Labour with a massively increased majority.

Then came Carlton East – here we had one sitting Labour county councillor and one Tory. We won both seats with a considerable majority of 600 votes.

Four seats were in the bag but we still needed to win the final four to be declared in Nottinghamshire, one of which was the seat I was standing in.

Arnold South was declared next – this was previously held by two Tories with a majority of 700 votes. We won both seats with a 700 majority for Labour.

Arnold North was last to declare, again it was formerly held by two Tories with a majority of 1,200. My fellow candidate Pauline Allan and I won with a 700 vote majority. This result delivered the majority of one needed for Labour on Nottinghamshire County Council.

The action on the day was exciting and an important step forward for Labour in the East Midlands but how we made such gains in Gedling is even more important.

We don’t profess to have the answer for how to win but our experience of winning gives an idea of what needs to be done.

1. A hard-working local MP that remains rooted in the constituency they represent and is firmly on the side of all their constituents however big or small the issue. And a solid team of staff to support the MP in their constituency office.
2. Local councillors who work closely with the MP and deliver on a set of clear pledges. They also needed to be rooted in the communities they represent and are active throughout the year, not just at election time.
3. Good quality literature that is delivered all year round and supported by activity on social media. This only works if the elected politicians in the area are authentic – being recognised from their ward walks, local casework and support to local schools and community groups etc.
4. Teamwork – everyone working as an effective machine to deliver for the local community and to win elections and everyone being valued for their contribution whether a supporter, member, councillor or MP.
5. Confidence and courage – the belief that you can win whatever the odds stacked against you. Retreating to ‘Labour areas’ and simply identifying the ‘core vote’ is a missed opportunity and only leads to identifying an ever decreasing pool of voters.

This kind of result will have been delivered in many more places across the country but we need to win in other areas like Gedling if we’re serious about ensuring Ed Miliband becomes Prime Minister two years from now.

Michael Payne is deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council and a Nottinghamshire County Councillor. He tweets at @michaelpayneuk.