On Saturday 17th March, Crosby summoned the
entire campaign team into the office for his traditional eve of battle pep
talk. On Tuesday 20th March the official election period would begin, we would
have full control of Boris’ activities and the battle would intensify. Boris
would walk into our office as a candidate, not just the mayor. It was the phase
of the campaign we had planned meticulously for and looked forward to the most.
After this there was no turning back. Many of us couldn’t believe it had
finally arrived.
Crosby had ordered boxes of bright blue shirts
with ‘team member’ slogans for everyone to wear. Before he began his speech, he
pulled on one of the shirts and instructed everyone to do the same. I looked
around and for the first time I noticed just how big the team had become. It
seemed like just a few weeks ago that a handful of us had taken possession of
this vast office space in Savile Row. Now, the room was overcrowded with two to
a desk. One wall was covered with rows and rows of trays, where volunteers
deftly sorted postal votes around the clock. In the middle of the room stood an
industrial sized shredder – with everyone under orders to shred anything, no
matter how insignificant. (Although he could never prove it, Crosby was fairly
sure there was a Labour mole somewhere in the office.) Boxes of leaflets
occupied every available bit of floor space. It was an impressive, slick
operation. It had to be, if we were to beat Ken.
Once everyone had their regulation shirts on,
Crosby summed up the state of the race so far. It was going to come down the
wire. Boris was almost universally liked, but this didn’t necessarily translate
into votes. Londoners were finding it tough, and they were extremely receptive
to any prospect of relief. Even though they didn’t like Ken, many were willing
to take a risk on him if it meant a chance of lower fares. It meant that we had
to raise the importance of the risk and remind people what they would be
returning to if Ken won again. However, he cautioned, we wouldn’t win the
election just by attacking Ken. Because Boris was liked, people were willing to
hear his message. They wanted to hear a specific plan for the future, and a
clear sign that he would fix things in the long term. Therefore, we had to
constantly talk about the 9-point plan and how we were on a journey. Everything
we did and said needed to re-enforce the main campaign narrative;
Yet another exclusive behind the scenes glimpse from "Victory in London" by Alex Crowley
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Book Description
The inside story of the campaign to put Boris Johnson back
into power as London Mayor told by one of the top members of his
campaign team who was at Boris's side throughout. In 2012 the political
stakes could not be higher. After one term in office and despite
enjoying personal popularity, Boris Johnson faced an uphill battle for
re-election as Mayor of London. Buffeted by Tory unpopularity, the
toughest financial conditions in years and accusations that he was out
of touch and Mayor, Boris faced the fight of his political life. And to
top it all, he was up against Ken Livingstone, one of the most
formidable and ruthless campaigners in British politics. This is the
first and most authoritative book about Boris Johnson's re-election.
Told by an insider, it will reveal the inner workings of the campaign
and how one of the most high profile politicians in the country and his
extraordinary team pulled off an election victory that was closer than
anyone dared think. Based on an unprecedented level of access to all the
key players, including Boris himself and campaign director Lynton
Crosby, this is a must read for anyone interested in politics. * Launch
Event at Conservative Party Conference. * High profile political
bloggers will push the book * Sunday newspaper serialisation under
negotiation Social Media * The book will be "Book of the Month" for
Bretwalda for November 2012 which will involve an intensive FaceBook and
Twitter push as well as the usual book launch marketing.
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