The general election beckons. For parliamentary candidates, they are facing the last lap of a gruelling, testing marathon. Stamina, self-belief and the ability to eat a take-away on the hoof are all essential requirements for today’s A-list candidates - irrespective of political party.
I had the honour of fighting five consecutive general elections locally between 1987 and 2005 and I lived to tell the tale. The real star of any election campaign, however, is the election agent. As a young, fresh-faced, first-time candidate, my agent told me without any ceremony that I was merely ‘an electoral necessity’ and not to get in the way! • • • The best agents, in my experience, are a cross between a Regimental Sergeant Major and Mother Teresa - they are organised, efficient and decisive, but always available to listen to the woes and problems of their candidates.
I was lucky in my time to have had former Inverness Provost Jimmy Gray and ex-Labour organiser Ron Stevenson as my agents, both of whom were first class, working round the clock throughout the campaign and keeping things on track. Spare a thought for all the hard-working candidates, battling through rain storms and, over recent days, heatwaves, in an attempt to get their message over to local voters, who are increasingly cynical about politicians across the political divide. There are the hustings meetings, designed to be a cruel and unusual punishment for the unwary or unprepared candidate.
I remember in my earl.
