Catalyst Campaign’s founder, Scott Goodstein, collaborated with UK Communications Consultant, Stuart Thomson, to discuss the upcoming elections in England.
Five Challenges All Labour Election Candidates Must be Prepared for — LabourList.org
With the PM seemingly having committed to the general election taking place in the second half of 2024, candidates need to make the most of the limited time available to prepare themselves.
The first thing to emphasise is that a ‘working assumption’ is not the same as a guarantee. The PM has not ruled out a May election, so any preparations need to have this timing in mind. No one should delay in preparing themselves.
Each candidate needs to think about their winning equation, which involves a mix of the three critical variables of all political campaigns: time, people and money.
Of course, all Labour candidates require a deep understanding of the political landscape and effective communication strategies. Some candidates are products of their local areas, know them well and are entrenched in the local party machinery.
Preparation is the key (as time is limited). Here are five crucial challenges for which every Labour candidate should be prepared in creating their own winning scenario:
1. Know why you are running
It is important to craft a compelling narrative. It may be the party name that dominates for some, but the reality is that voting for the same political party is a thing of the past. So, as we have seen in the US, there is a need to develop a clear and authentic personal story that connects with local voters.
That means being able to craft a core message that seeps throughout every aspect of your campaign. In other words, what is the unique narrative that differentiates you from other candidates? This story must be believable, credible, memorable and authentic. A candidate needs to spend real time on this step, as any narrative that smacks of being too ‘pre-packaged’ will not work.