Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘We need a rebirth - it was an awful election’
Re-elected Labour MP Rosie Duffield was nervously watching election night through her fingers as her party capitulated before her eyes. The national picture was looking grim and the exit poll suggested the Tories had an 88% likelihood of reclaiming the Canterbury and Whitstable seat.
In her own words, the results across the country were a “car crash” which must not be glossed over. But bucking the gloomy national trend, Ms Duffield - who arrived in the nick of time before the result was declared - extended her majority as she won her seat by 1,836 votes, taking 48.3% of the share.
She said: “I stayed in and watched the awful car crash unfold on a national scale. “I was peeking through my fingers and loads of us were on the phone to each other saying, ‘oh my god, look what’s happening’. It was a frenzy. Everything was just imploding.
“It was not fun to see my friends lose seats, it was horrible to see.
“But I did really OK - much better than I thought.” With her party now in disarray and ousted MPS licking deep wounds, the future of Labour is uncertain.
Never afraid to speak out against the leadership, Ms Duffield says a restructure and ditching of the factions is needed in order to get back on the right path.
“The problem was definitely on the doorsteps,” she said.
“We need to look at the leadership and Jeremy has recognised that.
“I really, really would like a woman leader - it’s about time for one.
“The way we have been going has not appealed to the general public. “We’ve got a very far-right Conservative party so we can’t keep drifting further to the left because that isn’t what the public want. “We absolutely have to stop telling ourselves we’re doing brilliantly because we’re not. Maybe we need a rebirth as it was awful this election. “We were offering so much in the manifesto that it might have seemed way too unrealistic for some. It was a kind of perfect wish list which everyone wants.” Having grown increasingly more well-known in recent months, the 48-year-old has found herself being tipped by some for a leadership bid. “That’s insane,” she laughed. “I’ve only been in the job for a short while. “Look at all the hostility towards the leaders. And in a constituency like mine I’m the only opposition MP in Kent so I ought to concentrate on those issues. “I promise you I am so not interested in being leader never. I know it’s boring to say that, but I’d hate it. “I can get so much more done being a backbencher.” Following her victory, Ms Duffield celebrated with her team and Labour students at Woody’s Bar on the University of Kent campus. Students again turned out in their hundreds to queue up in the rain and cast their votes on polling day - which surely played a major role in securing the increased red majority.
With the Green Party standing down its candidate and the Lib Dems having a halfhearted approach during the campaign, Labour were given a helping hand in keeping the split votes down to a minimum.
“I think it was the brilliant coalition of people lending me their votes - that was key,” said Ms Duffield. “The student vote was great and I think a lot of people realised I was the only local candidate who knows the area. I did work very hard during the last two-and-a-half years and that got through to people on the doorstep. “We’re probably not going to have another election for five years so I feel like I can achieve a lot more.”
As for her plans to fight for the constituency, she said: “Saving Wincheap marshes is high on the priority list.”
The city council wants to press ahead with plans to build on the picturesque meadows as part of an expansion to the
Wincheap park and ride. But fierce opposition has led to a decision on the project being halted until the new year.
“We need the council tocomeupwithan alternative,” she explained. “There’s been a huge outcry, it’s really taking off and I’ll be pushing the council for change.”
Ms Duffield said the state of hospitals in east Kent is “also a huge problem that needs sorting as soon as possible.”
“I don’t feel I should come out and back the hospital bid for Canterbury as we’ve got to see what everyone thinks,” she said. “Obviously I want the best for Canterbury but not at the detriment at other areas - it’s not an easy one.”
As a staunch Remainer, Ms Duffield still wants another EU referendum yet realises that ambition is now all but lost due to Boris Johnson’s 80-seat majority.
“I still can’t vote for the withdrawal bill as it goes against everything we’ve campaigned for,” she said. “I’m looking forward to carrying on with the casework and to meeting new people,” she added. “I love the job, it’s the best constituency in the world.” n See pages 8-11 for more election coverage.
‘We were offering so much in the manifesto that it might have seemed way too unrealistic for some’