Twinning
Frequently Asked Questions
Q What's twinning
A It's members and supporters in neighbouring constituencies helping a marginal seat win the General Election for Labour. If we don't win in certain strategically important seats Gordon Brown and Labour won't win the country. In a first past the post election, there is no electoral gain from building up votes in safe Labour or unwinnable seats - our efforts have to be in those seats that decide the outcome of the election across the nation.
Q Why bother?
A It's a simple choice; David Cameron or Gordon Brown in Number 10.
We won't win the next General Election without hard work from Labour members and supporters campaigning in the most marginal constituencies. The more people that help, the easier the task.
Q What's in it for us?
A You and your constituency will benefit in a number of ways: you'll be invited to sociel events and political discussions with people from neigbouring constituencies; you will obtain new campaign skills; when you help you'll earn points that your CLP can use to purchase campaign materials and most importantly you'll be helping to return a Labour Goverment to power.
Q How will I make a difference?
A By joining together with other like minded people to help in your twinned seat you will enable the party to identify more Labour supporters, distribute more leaflets, raise more money, make more of a splash to build momentum to make the difference between winning and losing.
Q But we can reduce the opposition majority/we think we can win here.
A Candidates and members rightly want to win in their own area. They wouldn't be normal if they didn't. But in reality only a small number of seats
change hands at each General election. Reducing the majority of a Tory or Lib Dem MP might be fun - it might even help to win certain council seats in future, but it doesn't determine the result of the General Election and who becomes Prime Minister. that has to be our priority.
Q OK, so what's nvolved?
A Our strategically important seats need help doing all manner of tasks; helping deliver leaflets, calling on voters on the doorstep or telephone, organising social or fund raising events, working on a computer entering data, writing letters or maintaining a website, helping on a ministerial visit, driving people around or answering the office phone. There is something for everyone!
Q How often are we expected to help?
A Your help will always be appreciated and the more time you can give will make it easier to win. During 2007 there are two national campaign days when we'd like as many people as possible to help in their strategically important seat. These are on Saturday 15th September and Saturday 1st December.
Q Why can't their own members do the work?
A Members in your strategically important seat will be working hard to win, but they can do so much more with extra support. In the recent Ealing Southall by-election members from all over the south of England, the Midlands and Wales helped us win. They knew that even in a constituency with over 2,000 members they needed their help.
Q I cannot get to my strategically important seat to help. What can I do?
A It's possible a lift can be arranged with other members, but more and more people are helping by phoning from local telephone banks or in their own home. The co-ordinator in your strategically important seat can arrange for calling details to be sent to you direct.