The Campaign Corner series looks to give three tips about commonly asked campaign issues. Do get in touch if you have any questions you would like to suggest.
Today’s Campaign Corner question: I can’t wait to get some rest over Christmas! But should we give all our helpers a long break without asking them to do anything or is campaigning over Christmas a good idea?
Get rest – don’t burn out: politics isn’t everything. Your health, your family and your friends should get a look in, so do make sure you take a break when you need one.- Not everyone is the same: for some people, delivering or door-knocking between Christmas and New Year is not an option, either because they are away with family or are taking a breather. For some, however, it can be a very welcome chance to get out the house (maybe leaving relatives behind!) and burn off a few of those Christmas calories. Don’t assume all your possible helpers are the same. They aren’t. Ask them politely and see who wants to do what.
- It’s a good time to do surveys: many people are less busy over the festive season, which makes it a great time to ask them to fill in surveys. So if you are doing a leaflet for the public or a newsletter for members and supporters, think about making it more of a survey as you may well get a better response rate than usual.
Got any other tips? Please do share them in the comment thread below.
Want to know more about local campaigning? Campaigning In Your Community by myself and Shaun Roberts should be right up your street. It’s available for only £4 from ALDC and you can read an extract for free here.
Previous Campaign Corners have included:
- Should you still target during a PR election?
- What to do on the doorstep
- How to make Focus leaflets looks better
You can read them all here.
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8 Comments
It will be a brave campaigner for any party who goes delivering this Christmas. As for door knocking – do people have a death wish?
Don’t neglect the family, and take a rest, obviously. I would say it doesn’t look good to deliver material on Christmas Eve and the next few days, and even after that nothing heavily political. However, here’s a good (if sneaky) tip – if it looks like it’s going to snow, have some delivery ready you can do in the snow – only give it to these who are able and willing, of course, but nothing works better to get across the message “We work all year round” than a Focus coming through the letter box when there’s snow on the ground. It really does stick in people’s minds.
Another tip, just before Christmas and up to New Year are good times to be sending out press releases and letters to editors. The press is often very short of copy at this time. They’ll put in stuff which probably wouldn’t get in at other times, and they’ll be less likely to cut what you’ve written.
I know that in my home constituency, we’ve done Christmas cards, ‘signed’ by our local MP, MEP and Lord, and sent one to most households, perhaps with a ward focus perhaps not, from the middle of December. A lot of people appreciate that. But anything more active does look a bit weird, and the last couple of Christmases it’s been very cold and icy – is it a good idea to send often elderly campaigners around in the cold and dark?
Old Codger: When I have been on doorsteps between Christmas and New Year, response has been fine. So not so much ‘death wish’ as using the evidence 🙂
Yep, we do Xmas cards and New Years’ calendars round my way, but it is always good to take a break – stay in on Xmas Day and design your new members’ newsletter!
Not sure why Old Codger Chris talks about a death wish – I don’t think any of my local party have been killed on the doorstep recently.
There is no reason to stop campaigning during the hols, but as ever there will be some deliverers who can’t deliver because of other commitments. One good thing about taking out bundles of Focuses, though, is that it is an opportunity to drop a Christmas Card to the deliverers at the same time, and even a token present if you can. (I’m sure Mark will agree with me that a small chocolate comestible always goes down well!)
I would avoid Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day for door-knocking, but other than that you will probably get a more friendly reception because folk are a bit more relaxed on holiday. We’ve been out on doorsteps quite a bit recently and even in areas we thought we would get a lot of flak we’ve only had a little.
Neil: Now we’re talking!
From past experience residents seem happy to receive a Christmas card (although have your wits about you as they can be more friendly at this time of year). The downside is deliveries take longer than usual if it is icy, especially if your local Council fails to keep the roads clear from ice and snow.
The upside is more people are in (on holiday) so you can deal with the multiple entry dwellings easier.
Yes, Christmas cards for Focus deliverers are very important. Make sure a councillor or someone well-known in the local party hand signs the ones to deliverers. If you try a year without Christmas cards to deliverers and you’ll start losing them.