5 Reasons why I believe we can #KickOutClegg

Ever since the moment I knew I was coming to Sheffield University, I wanted to campaign hard against Nick Clegg. I believed we stood a chance of beating him, but overturning a 20,000 vote majority seemed pretty unrealistic. However, since I started fighting in Sheffield Hallam, I believe more and more we can defeat Nick Clegg at the next General Election. Here’s why:

1) Oliver Coppard is a quality candidate

This man is one of the best candidates we could hope to have fighting for this seat. His passion for Sheffield is contagious, and he will fight tooth and nail to win in 2015. But despite this, he remains humble, hardworking and driven to fight for his city rather than his seat – a city that has faced cuts to its council budget, European funding, and cancelling of an £80 million loan to a successful industry – Forgemasters.

2) The campaign team

Under our campaign manager, we have an effective grassroots group of hard core volunteers who routinely come out to canvass, leaflet and phone voters in Sheffield Hallam. Campaign sessions four days a week mobilize dozens of people to talk directly to the voters. We have little cash to splash out on constituency wide leaflets, but unions, organizations and people like Stand up for Labour and Lord Robert Winston have been vital in raising what money we do have, as was the generous crowdfunding campaign featured on LabourList in October.

3) National collapse of the Liberal Democrats

Even with the best candidate and most enthusiastic campaign team, we still wouldn’t stand a chance if it was not for who we were fighting against. After going into coalition with the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats have been annihilated in by-elections, council elections, and most surprisingly, the EU elections, only keeping one MEP. This has happened in Sheffield as much as anywhere else.

4) Ineffective Liberal Democrat campaigning

49% of voters in Sheffield Hallam have been contacted by the Liberal Democrats. I have, I received a leaflet during freshers week from them, and three more since. The Liberal Democrats believe that they can retain their seats just through posting leaflets to all their constituents. This won’t work. It won’t work because what they are selling – who they are selling – is toxic. Nick Clegg isn’t believed and isn’t trusted in his own seat.

5) The polls

I have been told several times by voters that I would “tell myself anything to believe we could win”. I accept that, yes, but on Thursday 27^th November, Lord Ashcroft published a poll of Sheffield Hallam constituency, and when asked how they would vote, 28% of people said Labour, 31% Liberal Democrat. We are three points away from making political history. We are three points away from proving that it is unacceptable to betray your principles.

We are three points away from beating Nick Clegg. Help us here: www.betterforsheffield.co.uk

Adam Wisdish is a volunteer with the Campaign for Sheffield Hallam