STEVE LOOKS BACK AT TWO YEARS AS A PROSPECTIVE MP
July 4, 2009 3:19 PM
Local Cornish campaigner Steve Gilbert looks back at two-years as the prospective MP for St Austell & Newquay.
"If a week is a said to be a long-time in politics, imagine what 104 of them feel like! It's now been two years since I was selected by the Lib Dems to stand in the new St Austell & Newquay constituency with the hope of being the first MP for the area I grew up in.
It's been a baptism of fire. Most candidates may expect one major issue every year in their patch - but with the airport, post office closures, the incinerator, the eco-town, a town centre redevelopment in St Austell and an outcry over lap dancing in Newquay - we've been deluged.
People probably think it's all about photo shoots and kissing babies, the reality is far from that. As a candidate I don't get paid and I don't even get petrol expenses to drive around the 100+ square miles of the constituency. So I have to work to make a living at the same time and there's no doubt that it's a difficult juggling act. As our politics becomes more about money and less about people my fear is that, in time, people like me, who come from a very "normal" Cornish background, simply won't be able to afford to put themselves forward anymore.
So, I work three-days a week managing the China Clay Museum in Carthew, and spend the bulk of the rest of my time knocking on doors chatting to residents. I'd guess I've met around 10,000 people over the last two years. I enjoy it. That, to me, is a huge part of what the job is about. You can't represent people without knowing what they think.
On top of that there's a back-office role as well and that takes care of some evenings each week. And the weekends are all about more door-knocking with only Sunday really ever left to catch up with long-suffering friends and family.
Is it worth it? Yes. The best bit is when you can help someone - it could be something as simple as getting a new loo put in by the council - but it makes it all worthwhile.
Of course, the real fight it yet to come. And although we bucked the trend during the recent council elections, getting one of the best results for the party anywhere in Cornwall, I know the next year is going to be even harder.
Over the last two years the General Election has been on, then off, then on again. It's been a roller coaster of anticipation. Now it looks set to be May next year. Or possibly October. Who knows? Someone once said that 'the journey is the thing' and over the last years I've met some great people and done some amazing things on my journey. I hope it continues."
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