The Rock Blog

Laura-Rose Saunders is the Deputy Area Chairman for Bristol & Gloucestershire. 

There’s nothing quite like a good campaign day; congregating inhumanly early on a Saturday morning with the local Conservatives all of whom seem to be at least 3 times older than you and can remember ‘the good old days when that nice Mr. Churchill was in office’, preparing to deliver a pile of leaflets the same size as your brother while the rain steadily falls and you stand there secretly wishing that you were tucked up in bed with your teddy and your cat.

However while this may appear to be the stereotypical campaigning situation I can confidentially reassure you that this is not always the case. In my time in CF I have been out and about in a wide variety of areas doing a whole range of things from collecting signatures for a local petition to canvassing and even touring London on the ‘Boris battle bus’ and I can tell you there is nothing like it in the world.

One of my favourite things about Campaigning is that you never know what’s going to happen or who you are going to meet. For example over the summer I helped out in the Cheltenham By-election and while out canvassing one street met a white witch who delightedly informed us that there was no chance of us losing as she had placed a spell on the Lib Dem candidate so that he would lose!

These days campaigning does not just take place on the doorstep with the locals discussing key issues like crime, tax and education it has moved on. In my room at Uni I have a fine collection of free t-shirts including ‘Chose Coote’, ‘Conservative Green Action day’ and the classic Back Boris style ‘Jesse Norman 4 Hereford’ t-shirt.

The internet is also a fantastic tool for broad casting your message take for example the ‘Rock 4 CF’ campaign. Blogs everywhere have the logo, numerous people have changed their profile pictures to the logo and I can’t go to a CF event and not bump into someone who is sporting one of the bright green ‘Rock 4 CF’ badges.

The five pieces of advice I would give to anyone planning to go on a Campaigning Day would be this: Wear comfy shoes, ALWAYS take chocolate, bring an umbrella, go with a friend and above all else smile! If it looks like you’re having fun, and appear happy and approachable then people will be more willing to help you and hear you out.

There is only one way to prove whether or not I am lying, and that’s to go and have a go. Conservative offices everywhere will be delighted to have you involved and you’ll also have unique experience that you can only acquire from a Conservative Party Campaign day.

Click here for information about “CF members that Rock!”