On Saturday I woke with a sense of excitement and dread. Will it be sunny? Will anyone turn up? Will there be enough food? Yes, if you’ve ever hosted a party, you’ll know the feeling.
It was the Eastbourne Labour BBQ at our home. It was originally conceived as a ‘thank you’ for campaigners in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in May, but a lot has happened since then. Instead, it was the launch of our campaign for the General Election in Eastbourne.
Sarah and I have hosted the Labour BBQ before, with speakers including Stella Creasy MP, Caroline Flint MP, John Cryer MP, and Yvette Cooper MP. This year, we were joined by Baroness Angela Smith, the Labour leader in the Lords.
We first met in the 1997 General Election when I was candidate in Billericay and she was the candidate in Basildon. She gave a tour-de-force speech on the forthcoming Labour manifesto, the failure of the Tories, and the energy and excitement of the Labour campaign.
We raised funds, saw old friends, enjoyed the sunshine, and had a lovely time. Now the hard work continues.
