ELECTION 2010: Why Labour won in Camden - theories on why they swept to power at Westminster, and locally

Published: 13 May 2010
by RICHARD OSLEY

End of Iraq War protest
Anger over the Iraq War was still felt by Labour canvassers on the doorstep, but no way near at the same depth as in the 2005 General Election and the 2006 council elections. Experienced councillors were claiming yesterday that people had “come back to Labour” as the wounds began  to heal.

Personal vote
Both Frank Dobson and Glenda Jackson had the incumbent’s advantage and a high “face recognition”. While Ms Jackson was accused of being “lazy” during the campaign, she still proved a star turn on the doorstep. Mr Dobson has cultivated a support base over four decades and most resistant to a negative swing.

Fear of Conservatives
A theory doing the round has it that “threat” of the Tories nationally stirred a sleeping Labour support that had been complacent when the seats were considered “safe”. Some Lib Dems believe that left-leaning, so-called “progressive” voters may have been considering a vote for their party but “chickened” at the last minute for fear of contributing to David Cameron’s success.

Boris
Some Labour supporters in Camden believe that the election of Boris Johnson as London Mayor two years ago was a jolt to the system and the shock galvanised support across London.

Sale of council homes
Labour lost the support of large numbers of council tenants ahead of the 2006 elections amid a privatisation row. The party claims to have “won back the estates” by fighting the Lib Dem/Tory policy of selling off council homes, the most unpopular strategy embarked on by the coalition.

Student vote
Labour insiders admit traditional support among students in the south of Camden did not come out for Frank Dobson in 2006, put off by student top-up fees (even though Mr Dobson voted against them). The party targeted the campuses this time around to ensure they didn’t swarm to the Lib Dems.