Golcar makes history
A cold late November evening saw Kirklees Liberal Democrats grinning from ear to ear as Christine Iredale made history – making the first Liberal Democrat gain from Labour in a Metropolitan Authority since the 2010 General Election.
Christine has been a stalwart of the Party for many years and served as a Councillor from 2003 until her defeat in 2012. No wonder she exclaimed after the result “It’s good to be back.” But for many residents in Golcar ward she never went away. Christine and husband Robert had both stayed key members of the FOCUS team after being swamped by the Labour surge in 2012 and 2011.
They both still appeared on FOCUS; still did casework; turned up to coffee mornings. Still knocking on doors and phoning people. Christine also organises a clerical team which includes possibly the fastest envelope writers and stuffers in the Party.
Christine is passionate about the local area and people. She has lived here most of her life, her Great-Grandchildren are about to be the third generation through local schools. Christine’s community links are extensive – she is active in the Royal British Legion and one of the Golcar Meals on Wheels “girls” – made famous by the Hairy Bikers.
“A worker, not a quitter”
Christine’s energy and commitment whilst she has been off the Council puts many of those still in office to shame. So no wonder that when the Labour councillor who had unseated her stood down there was no hesitation in Christine standing. His resignation was sudden and timed to make it hard for us to gain any momentum. But they reckoned without Christine’s crack clerical team. Handwritten blue envelopes were stuffed and on the streets within seven days!
On the doorsteps and phone Christine’s bluff no nonsense style and her authentic community credentials resonate with people. A massive contrast to Labour we reflected in one of the key messages of the campaign – a winner, not a quitter.
The campaign was not just about Christine, of course. The neglect of Golcar ward by the Labour Council and their failure to invest in the infrastructure to support the new build houses they had pushed into the ward gave voters a clear reason to oppose Labour as well.
“It’s good to be back”
Christine’s victory speech summed up not just her own feelings, but also that of the activists and supporters who had enjoyed taking the fight to Labour, and beating them emphatically. Buoyed up by the win the Kirklees team now go onto fight the 2014 elections, and for Golcar that will include a successful defence for fellow Cllr Andrew Marchington.
A version of this article first appeared in the January edition of the party’s Ad Lib members’ magazine, as part of ALDC’s contribution to Ad Lib’s local elections coverage.