The Difference with Exeter Labour...

Lord Mayor Cllr Rob Newby unveils the custom-made
signs for the new community space at Arena Park

This morning I attended the official opening of the new youth facilities at Arena Park, in Exeter. The local residents' association, together with Devon & Cornwall Housing, Exeter Parkswatch and the local community have raised £100,000 - no mean feat in these hard times - to provide a youth shelter, a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), play equipment and a huge community picnic table. (Actually, "picnic table" does not do the thing justice. Think medieval banqueting table!)

With me were the current Labour County Councillor for the area, Saxon Spence, my fellow Labour City Councillor, Moira MacDonald, the new Leader of the Labour Group on the County Council, Richard Westlake; and our Devon County Council election candidate Emma Morse. A whole team of Labour councillors and activists who have worked together with the community, local organisations and the City and County Councils to bring investment and partnership to a local area, and to deliver results.

Cllr Saxon Spence & Emma Morse
in the Arena Park youth shelter

Partnership is the key. Also there were the Devon & Somerset Fire Service, Parkswatch, Devon Youth Service, Devon & Cornwall Police, Exeter City Football Club's Football in the Community Project, and the amazing James Bond (yes, really!) of Carving Community - the organisation that recruited and led local young people in shaping their vision for a new youth shelter. The results are astounding - new community facilities that are loved and valued by the whole community, and form a new focus point for young and old, that bring the community together and enable residents to enjoy the open space together.

As we milled around the church hall enjoying our coffees I spoke to one local resident - a stalwart of the local residents' association. I was there to celebrate and support the local project, not to be "political", but that didn't stop this local resident becoming vocal. "The Conservatives have done nothing up here. Nothing." he said. "Even when we had Tory Councillors [for Pinhoe] they wouldn't do anything here. They just don't want to know."

Last year the Tory campaign in Pinhoe was highly visible. Teams of Conservative Future students from the University - together with activists bused in from other parts of Devon - supported local candidates to pound the streets and knock on doors. There were flurries of Twitter activity, declaring that Exeter Tories' activity was "#allyearround" - implying they were not simply out for your votes but were working 24/7 for the communities. 

Campaigning with Emma in "White City", Pinhoe

What a contrast this year! Our local team, supporting Emma Morse, has been actively campaigning for some months now, and has recently stepped-up activity to be canvassing daily now that the lighter evenings are here. We have not heard a peep from Emma's rival. Even asking residents as we campaign whether they have heard from the Tories has drawn a blank. I am surprised, but pleased. 

By contrast, Exeter Labour is a party rooted in local communities. The reason we have been able to bring so much to fruition across the city is because we have networks of City Councillors, County Councillors and grassroots community activists making things happen. For us, "all year round" is not a slogan for election times - it's the reality. Getting elected is just the start - after that comes the hard (but hugely rewarding) work of listening, planning and doing. Working with and through local communities to recognise their priorities and to plan for how - together - we achieve it. No wonder Exeter has become the "fourth happiest place to live" in the UK, in the top 2% of UK towns & cities for job creation and has the University, College and Museum of the Year! The city is run by a local Party that is itself rooted in the very communities it serves, and its activists are as much community activists as they are Party activists.

Vote Red - go Green! A whole row of older peoples'
bungalows in Pinhoe - all now fitted with solar panels

Emma is a local mum of two small children, and the daughter of a former City Council leader. Her husband is a local teacher, and Emma herself is a governor at a local school. She helps to run a local playgroup, and is a trustee of the local Community Centre. She hasn't been elected yet - this is what she does anyway. 

I once heard a great expression on leadership:

"You don't appoint leaders, you recognise them."

Leadership is not a "job" that you give to someone and then they "do" it. If you watch any group of people you will begin to recognise that some naturally begin to lead and serve others - to inspire and to motivate individuals for the collective good. Emma is in that category, and I will be proud to have her representing me as my local County Councillor on May 3rd. Please join us in supporting Emma on May 2nd, and if you would like to help with Emma's campaign, get in touch here.