Masterminding inroads on a 'safe' Tory seat. Anna Pascoe's week as Lib Dem PPC for South West Devon

By Anna Pascoe, on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

What with learning cool new keyboard shortcuts, masterminding an electoral by-election win in a ‘safe’ Tory seat, and running the gauntlet of security at a Tinchy Stryder with contraband caramel eggs, it’s all go in the life of South West Devon’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Anna Pascoe…

Monday, February 15
The hustle and bustle of a Monday at work began the week, with a bit of time to check in with the Ivybridge campaign team to see how the day’s leafleting and doorknocking had gone when I got in. Then it was off to pick up the girls for a netball match half-an-hour later. The opposing team were pretty good-natured and it was a good match, however, this far in to the season a lot of us are nursing old injuries that are flaming up again and my left ankle was pretty non-functional by the end of the game!

Tuesday, February 16
A morning of campaign admin and final planning for the Ivybridge Filham Polling Day ensued today, with a short break for a rather stiff gym session. Then it was off to work again in the afternoon. It was day two for our latest new recruit at the hotel and so I spent Tuesday introducing him to the delights of hotel management software and operations systems (his previous job being in IT, I was quite chuffed when he taught me a cool new keyboard shortcut – that is about the extent of the excitement in a PPC’s life).

Wednesday, February 17
It was a super-early alarm call this morning to print out delivery routes and maps for the campaign crew for tomorrow’s Ivybridge Filham Polling Day. With everything safely bundled in to the car, I worked my shift at work and then headed over to meet Cllr Keith Baldry to double-check everything was ready for tomorrow. My weary grey pallour prompted Mrs Baldry to tactfully place a plate of cottage pie in front of me, which was most welcome. Having polished that off and made all the calls and emails I needed to before Polling Day, it was an early night to try to be as fresh as possible for the big day.

Thursday, February 18
The earliest I’ve ever begun a Polling Day operation was 3am and by the close of polls at 10pm that day, I could barely walk (for those who followed my Tweets from the beginning, this dated back to the infamous Enormous Crack in Heel epic – still have the scar now!).

Thanks to the help from St Austell and Newquay PPC Stephen Gilbert and his merry band of youthful interns, I didn’t have to get up until the practically daylight hour of 6am today though, and by 9am we were indulging in the Bad Boys Brunch at the fab Julie’s Cafe in Glanville’s Mill.

Then the team set to knocking on doors all the day long, with the odd bit of victualling in the Sportsman’s Arms, conveniently opposite Tony Barber’s house.

As we anxiously awaited the count, it became apparent that our hard work and team effort had paid off, as Tony Barber was duly elected to represent the ward he has made his home for decades. Tony really deserves his success and will make a great councillor. Just goes to show that there is no such thing as a safe Tory seat…

Friday, February 19
I had an incredible lie in today – until the unprecendented hour of 8am!!! Then it was off to St Austell to repay the favour to Stephen Gilbert for his help winning Ivybidge by lending a hand with his Calling on the Clays action weekend. There’s a great energy and enthusiasm round Steve’s campaign and I am starting to get an Intern Inferiority Complex, as he has so many and I have none! If any PRSD readers would like to help me out in chasing Steve’s intern tally and lending a few hours a week to my campaign, get in touch. A shift at work followed tonight as we welcomed more guests to the hotel over the weekend.

Saturday, February 20
The day at work flew by and our new starter is making great progress, which certainly makes my life that little bit easier. Began planning out a new cocktail list today, which should be a staff training session that no-one minds attending in a couple of weeks’ time when it’s finished!

Then it was off for a girlie night out in the first instalment of my not-so-little-anymore sister’s birthday celebrations, before settling into bed for a much-needed deep slumber.

Sunday, February 21
The final day of Calling on the Clays, so met up with the St Austell and Newquay gang again this morning to deliver some leaflets in the winter sunshine. Day two of my little sister’s birthday and we were off to Bristol to see Tinchy Stryder live in concert. Stopped off for a nice roast dinner beforehand and nearly came a cropper when the Bristol Academy’s bag search policy decreed that the Cadbury’s caramel eggs I’d bought us were not allowed to be brought into the venue! Dashed back to the car boot with them to save for a midnight feast on the way home. Tinchy was good fun and it was a great way to round off a great week