Back to pavilion for analogue MP

One Saturday afternoon midway through the election campaign the Labour and Liberal Democrats were getting busy. They were engaging with thousands of potential voters, sending out tweets, Facebook posts and videos. At the same time the man who had easily held the seat on seven previous occasions was marching along a street in Whitstable banging on the doors of houses, many of them empty, with an entourage of ageing white men wheezing and limping behind him.

It was good old fashioned campaigning from Sir Julian Brazier just as the prime minister had wanted. Let’s get out and meet the people, wear out a bit of shoe leather and press some flesh. You can of course do both the digital bit and the Brazier style of drumming up support. But why try too hard when that support hasn’t failed you for 30 years? On June 8 they will dutifully file round to the polling station and put that cross next to your name as they have always done. And that’s exactly what happened last Thursday, indeed Sir Julian’s vote went up. The trouble was, the “other side” was working harder, growing support and coming right on your heels to take a huge bite of your derriere. There was no warning, not even a close shave to make you rethink your strategy for next time. Like a pearl of a cricket delivery, you’re out son. Back to the pavilion with a second innings distinctly unlikely.

The recriminations have started of course, with the Conservatives complaining that it was all about the students. Even if that was true (which it isn’t - there were other factors) it’s tough luck. You blew it through sheer complacency and a mismanaged campaign at national and local level. To suggest that students shouldn’t be able to vote here is futile nonsense. They have to vote somewhere and if the registration rules allow it that’s fair enough. If this argument held any water, then what next? We ban anyone over 85 from voting because they won’t be around in a few years either, or people moving house?

The complaints about the student vote show a lack of grace and magnanimity in defeat that to his credit Sir Julian has not displayed himself. His problem was he was an analogue MP in a changing world.