Knocking on doors is victory key

Clive Lewis, Labour’s candidate in Norwich South, is calling on fellow Unite members to come and help him overturn a Lib Dem majority of just 310.

“Knocking on doors is the key to winning a marginal seat,” says the former BBC journalist. “Every knock on the door, every conversation we don’t have, is one more chance of a Tory government.

“My message to Unite members is : Now is the time to come and help. We need you!”

It’s a message that applies not just to Norwich but the whole country, of course, but Clive is quietly confident that Labour can win back his seat, number six on Labour’s target list, and that Ed Milliband will become the country’s next prime minister.

He believes that Ed Miliband is moving Labour in the right direction and the party can win back those voters it lost five years ago and attract people considering minority parties.

Clive reckons that in Norwich South Labour is ahead, but that the Lib Dems and Greens are running neck and neck with the Tories with Ukip behind them, so persuading people considering minority parties to vote Labour is an important issue.

“I understand why people may be looking at the minor parties – they know that things have got worse under the Tory-Lib Dem coalition but they are disillusioned with politics and politicians.

Reality

“I say to them – the reality is that there will be a Labour or a Tory government, given the electoral system we have. So if you don’t want the Tories, vote Labour and if you do want Labour, vote Labour.

“The Greens are fond of saying they are all the same but that is not true. There is a world of difference between Labour and the Tories and I believe that people can see that.

“We are not New Labour anymore, we are moving back towards where Labour needs to be. Labour’s narrative is beginning to firm up on issues such as industrial policy, a return to regional investment, and getting rid of employment tribunal fees.

“The economy is not working for the vast majority of people – the trickle down effect hasn’t worked – it’s been flooded up, not trickle down.

“People are tired and they want a change. They want to see competence and an assured approach – and Labour is offering this. The Greens have let themselves down, they often seem amateur.”

Clive grew up on a council estate in Northampton and attended a local comprehensive school. He was the first member of his family to attend university and read economics at the University of Bradford where he was elected student union president and then vice-president of the National Union of Students (NUS).

After training as a journalist Clive worked on various newspapers and spent 12 years as a BBC political and news reporter. In early 2000, he joined the army reserves, and in 2009 served as an officer in charge of a small group of soldiers in Afghanistan. It was on his return that Clive decided to get involved in politics.

Life-changing

“I spent three months in Afghanistan and it really was a life-changing experience. When you are in danger of losing your life it makes you think about what’s important and what you want to do.”

Both Clive’s father – who was born in the Caribbean island of Grenada and has just retired as an official for the Bakers and Allied Workers Union – and his grandfather, who was a shop steward for the electricians’ union (now part of Unite), were part of his inspiration.

“Trade union politics has always been part of our household,” Clive recalls. “I remember my dad being involved in the miners’ strike and me having arguments with people at school.

“I am proud of being supported by Unite and all the trade unions who are helping me. The Greens and Lib Dems try and taunt me about being in the pocket of the unions but my reply is: ‘Yes I have a vested interest. My vested interest is working people and I am proud to be a trade unionist candidate.’

“If I get elected I’ll do my best to represent the interests of working people – my friends and colleagues in the party and the unions here in Norwich – and to speak up for what I believe in.”