It’s the night before polling day, and this will only be a short article as I have to catch up on my sleep. I’ll be awake all night tomorrow night at the vote count for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough, and Chester North and Neston, not to mention out for a full day of campaigning tomorrow.
The atmosphere among my Labour comrades is palpable. We’ve just received a flying visit from Angela Rayner on her very own battle bus, visiting Chester South and Eddisbury, the only marginal seat in the area, to give a morale boost to the activists before the big push tomorrow. Speeches were made, selfies were taken, and spirits were raised.
I’ll be shocked if we don’t come away with majorities of 20,000+ in the two seats I’ll be at the count for, but still, after every poll forecasting a huge win for Labour, after Tory Ministers admitting premature defeat on the airwaves, even as samples of postal votes show a national swing towards Labour, I still cannot shake this feeling, this nagging doubt in the back of my mind.
It’s my first professional election, so I’m bound to feel nervous, I get that. My colleagues who have worked previous elections, Labour wins and defeats, all say the atmosphere for this one is different. There is no fervour for Labour. Most positive attitudes fall within the range of apathy, lukewarm acceptance, or steadfast support. I’d say about half of all those I’ve canvassed this election have fallen into this category.
I have seen many who can think of nothing worse than a Labour Government, especially under Keir Starmer (mostly deluded by bogus stories about his past, being Conservative or Reform, who I have found in equal proportion in my patch), but I have seen few who are excited for it. Of course, myself and my comrades are excited for it, but we recognise we are biased in this. Labour will need to give people a reason to be excited for the next election, we will need to keep our promises.
I’ll be writing another brief article after the result is announced to give my immediate thoughts. Perhaps my pessimism will assuaged, perhaps it will be realised. Perhaps Labour walk away with a 100 seat majority, but my reservations remain, the Ming vase still wobbling precariously in Keir Starmer’s sweaty hands, even along the polished corridors of power themselves.
Now, it is all down to you, dear reader. If you’re in the UK, go out tomorrow and use your voice, I implore you. If you want change, it will only happen if you vote for it, wherever you are. From my personal experience, placing my X on my ballot paper is a truly fulfilling experience, and knowing my vote will count towards that change, and all that I’ve done to secure Labour’s victory, I’ll be smiling through the night tomorrow.
stay safe, and vote!
/e