Monday 18 April
Press conference at 11.30. The story is this: one resignation from the Sedgefield Executive, +/- 24 resignations from the party over the war, 33pc loss of party members since 1997, 80pc of the names on Reg's nomination papers coming from ex-Labour members - extrapolated to this election, with huge popular discontent over the war and a local electorate dismayed by the demise of industry in the region and lacking a visible local MP, how will this be reflected in the Labour vote in Sedgefield on May 5th?
I'm not sure of the extent of coverage on this - no-one in the office has time to read the papers properly, let alone watch and listen - but the mood definitely has changed.
Both before and after the press conference, Reg and the others are out canvassing in areas which have been leafleted. The first door they knock on in the afternoon is opened with a welcoming smile and the offer of a cup of tea. 'Of course I know who you are' the voter says, 'and I'm definitely voting for you'. Before they get to the bottom of the garden path a poster has gone up in the window. This is all captured by the fly-on-the-wall team for posterity. Reg's recognition rate is brilliantly high.
News - some Labour posters have been spotted, not in windows but on roundabouts. Roundabouts for Blair perhaps - not as good as Simon Hoggart's classic Trees for Sleaze when houses were plastered with Vote Bell posters and trees with Vote Hamilton during the Tatton campaign. Come up and see us Simon and think of something better!
Meanwhile journalists from aboard ring all the time and ask 'what are you doing next Tuesday week?' I tell them all we don't know what we're doing, but we're definitely doing something; all you need to do is to come to Sedgefield when it suits you, ring me, and we will find Reg out on the streets wherever he is. No interview slots can be booked, and Reg will not go to any studios outside the constituency, but he is here and happy to see you.
I apologise if I have not returned all your calls - the best thing to do is just to come here and find us.
- ©Reg Keys, 2005 -
