No slacking as elections approach

Published on Sat 17th Mar 2007

My last head of office, Kris Verle, always claimed that Spring began on the 1st March. He is clearly wrong! My diary makes it quite clear that Spring begins this week and there is sun and blue sky, at least outside my window, to prove it.

And this month marks some other very important celebrations of the benefits of democracy too. This weekend marks the 200th anniversary of the passing of the act to abolish the slave trade - a momentous change in which some of the elected representatives of their day played a proud and historic part. This month too sees the fiftieth birthday of the European Union, and the front page of the Independent of Wednesday this week has an excellent reminder of 50 reasons why the EU has been, and is, a good thing. I commend strongly the first 3 pages of this Wednesday's Independent as compulsory campaign material to have in copied form to give out to anyone who raises this issue on the doorstep.

This month too sees the annual occasion of Commonwealth Day. I was again privileged with others to be at Westminster Abbey for the celebrations service. With the tragic exception of Zimbabwe and the periodic backsliding of Fiji the Commonwealth has been a massive force for democratic good and we must go on hoping and working for continuingly stronger democracies not least in Bangladesh and Nigeria where elections are due this year as well as in Fiji and Zimbabwe as soon as possible.

Over the last weekend I saw the Oscar winning film 'The Last King of Scotland'. If you need reminding as to why we need to keep up the battle for human rights in every country then this film gives us a very powerful and effective reminder.

So democracy around the world, across Europe and within our own shores is a good thing. And as the campaigns accelerate in Scotland and Wales, and in much of England we should remember this and be really positive that whatever the problems it is a privilege and an opportunity to take part in the democratic process.

I have been really encouraged by some really good candidates and really good campaigns as I have been around the country. In Derby, Hampshire and Surrey where I have been recently there have been excellent campaigns with excellent candidates. I have seen that in Scotland and in Wales we are firing on all cylinders too. I cannot stress too much that maximum campaigning, relentless campaigning and really effective campaigning will be the key to success in may seats in all three countries in the weeks ahead.

Yes, of course we need good literature, and of course we need good delivery systems, but we also need good and accurate telephone canvassing and good and accurate face to face canvassing at the times and in the places where the voters are to be found.

Be positive on the doorstep, not negative. Give people three simple clear reasons to vote for you. Smile and don't take more time than you need. And be positive about young people.

Apart from Good Friday and Easter day, when people may have very good reasons for not disturbing the electorate, I hope that there will be no places where any seat or any existing successes are taken for granted.

The whole of the result nationwide may in the end depend on a few votes, in a few key wards, in a few key seats. The only time that should be put in the diary now for rest, recovery and recreation is the May bank holiday weekend - which I hope will be the time when many of you can be enjoying the warm glow of success and planning your political career ahead. My simple and no nonsense message is this - no slacking!

Just one last sad note. Another valiant Liberal Democrat soldier has been taken from us. It was really sad to hear of the death of Hugh Warren. He was a huge campaigner for liberalism and will be missed greatly right across the party.