ICG to consider its next moves

Doorstep support for ICG didn't translate into votes

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Phil Andrews, Campaigns Manager for Independent Community Group (ICG) and Isleworth candidate, reflects on the election.

"I was naturally disappointed not to have won seats, however there was clealy a very large swing to Labour across the borough and beyond and this affected all challengers, including the ICG.

"We fought an immense campaign and could not have done more.  We picked up no anti-ICG sentiment on the doorsteps at all, we noticed a good few weeks before polling day that voters were wishing us well and thanking us for our work in the past but stopping just short of promising us their support this time.  The general mood was just for Labour and that proved to be something that was beyond our control.
 
"It is no secret that there were elements of Labour's campaign in Isleworth that we were unhappy with, however none of this made any difference to the overall outcome.  Labour worked very hard on the doorsteps for their victory and deserved their win.  They have strong teams of councillors in the wards in which we are active and we wish them well in their roles.
 
"The ICG will take the time to consider its next moves.  I am not sure it is sustainable for our success or failure to be dependent upon the ebb and flow of national political fortunes.  We are a community group which fights elections rather than a full-blooded political party and have the option of pursuing our objectives without being involved in elections.  That is the option I think we should be considering, with or without the approval of those who have up until now been our political opponents.
 
"Personally I would like to take a less prominent role, whilst still offering the group my active support.  I don't have an appetite these days for adversarial politics and would very much like to be taking a more consensual approach to dealing with local issues than has been the case in the past."


May 29, 2014

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