Richard Howitt, Labour MEP and Regional Campaign Manager
Interviewed campaigning on a Super Sunday, April 12th, and on the night of the count after the vote was declared.
As described by the depositor:
Richard Howitt told us: “The last election five years ago was the first digital election, where social media played a role, and most people said at the time it was not significant, but this time social media has been a very active part of each party’s campaign including the Labour parties. Whether it swings any votes, we will have to wait until afterwards to know. In Cambridge we are trying to knock on every door as every vote is vital to us, but that wouldn’t be true in every seat, but it is true in Cambridge. You put more effort into some wards than others but we definitely don’t forsake the Labour vote. Most people don’t live and breathe politics, I do, but for others politics is very marginal.
“We know how many promises we have got, and we have knocked on a high percentage of doors, but there is quite a lot that we haven’t and no party is able to. People say there are two seats in the country where Labour may move from third place to first and Cambridge is one of them. If we do that it will be a fantastic achievement and I believe we will.”
We then interviewed Labour activists Holly, Ashely, Olivia, Fred, Rory and Maddie. Maddie, the Organiser of Super Sunday told us: “When we are preparing leaflets it is local people who know which streets go best together. I always ask the local team which place is the best to go to. When you do something together in a team it is actually quite straight forward. The best way to convince people is by speaking to them on the doorstep it is the best way.”
As described by the depositor:
Richard Howitt told us: “The last election five years ago was the first digital election, where social media played a role, and most people said at the time it was not significant, but this time social media has been a very active part of each party’s campaign including the Labour parties. Whether it swings any votes, we will have to wait until afterwards to know. In Cambridge we are trying to knock on every door as every vote is vital to us, but that wouldn’t be true in every seat, but it is true in Cambridge. You put more effort into some wards than others but we definitely don’t forsake the Labour vote. Most people don’t live and breathe politics, I do, but for others politics is very marginal.
“We know how many promises we have got, and we have knocked on a high percentage of doors, but there is quite a lot that we haven’t and no party is able to. People say there are two seats in the country where Labour may move from third place to first and Cambridge is one of them. If we do that it will be a fantastic achievement and I believe we will.”
We then interviewed Labour activists Holly, Ashely, Olivia, Fred, Rory and Maddie. Maddie, the Organiser of Super Sunday told us: “When we are preparing leaflets it is local people who know which streets go best together. I always ask the local team which place is the best to go to. When you do something together in a team it is actually quite straight forward. The best way to convince people is by speaking to them on the doorstep it is the best way.”