As the General Election looms, Labour candidates across the country are holding their nerve. After years in the wilderness, five Conservative Prime Ministers and two referendums, polls suggest the party is on the cusp of victory. But far away from Labour’s Southside HQ, their candidates are at the forefront of a hard-fought ground campaign to make the predicted majority a reality.

Division of seats being contested

Labour has had the seeds of their campaign sewn for a long time. The start of their planning process involved splitting constituency seats into three categories:

• Safe Seats: Candidates in safe seats enjoy a comfortable majority and face little risk of losing to an opponent.
• Unwinnable Seats: Candidates in unwinnable seats face an uphill battle and so are focused on supporting neighbouring colleagues in battleground seats.
• Battleground Seats: Candidates in battleground seats compete against opponents with slim majorities (10,000 or less). Flipping these constituencies is essential for Labour’s success.

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What’s required of Labour candidates to be successful at the polls

Acutely aware of their seat designation, candidates are expected to work towards a Labour majority in Westminster whether they’re likely to become an MP or not. To be a good candidate and team player, all have a set of core requirements during the campaign:

• Know your stuff: Whether parachuted into a seat or deeply connected, candidates must understand and be able to speak to Labour’s national commitments as well as local issues relevant to the constituency.
• Visible presence: Whether through social media or door knocking, it’s necessary for candidates to build something of a presence, at the very least in the view or minds of those in the local party.
• Hustings participation: Often taking place in school halls or churches, hustings give the public an opportunity to quiz candidates from different political parties on what they would bring to the local area if elected as the MP. With so much at stake, Labour candidates have been asked to record what they say at local hustings and other public events to help the party mitigate the risk of any potential fallout.

With many commentators complaining that the election feels like it’s over and a Labour majority inevitable, candidates are increasingly closing their minds to what happens after polling day. Many can’t afford to think that victory is certain. On the ground, there is a stark number of undecided voters who seem disillusioned with politics and the options available.

Labour’s strategy to win battleground constituencies

To secure victory in battleground seats and counter the insurgent national campaigns of Ed Davey and Nigel Farage, Labour has channelled significant resource and money into battleground constituencies:

• Battle-hardened organisers: Experienced local organisers, tested during numerous by-elections in the last Parliament, lead campaigns, rally activists through dedicated Whatsapp groups, and manage candidates.
• Printed materials: Leaflets, lawn signs, and posters flood the constituency, reinforcing Labour’s message.
• Fresh activists: Candidates in unwinnable seats are paired with battleground candidates and are required to direct their activists to their neighbour’s constituency. Labour’s regional teams do not look favourably on candidates who fail to prioritise party success and instead, focus their efforts on a seat they are highly unlikely to win.

The last few weeks of the campaign will go slowly for Labour Party candidates. The cautious six-week campaign (defined by “Ming vase” strategy) and the party’s ongoing lead in the pollshas built anticipation. With the campaign soon to reach its climax, no candidate wants to be remembered as the one who dropped the ball and let the side down.