Election Campaign Workshop

[robert.cox]

2015 Election Campaign – Workshop at Head Office (ADM Weekend)

A workshop is to be held at Head Office – probably on the Sunday of ADM (26^th October) as part of our preparations for the General and Local elections next year.

This was agreed by the EC and I have been asked to invite Branches, groups and individual members to start considering this event and to contribute any ideas they may have; either for the workshop or further training and development opportunities.   The EC plans to finalise the workshop on Saturday 4^th October.

Suggested content:

• The Speakers Test.  A new version “The Modern Speakers Test” has been commissioned by the EC and will be circulated soon for consultation.  A mock interview of a Party Candidate/Speaker using the new test is being planned. The workshop could also include some training for new/prospective speakers and candidates, including practice sessions with a ‘real’ audience.  A discussion on the content of the new test should take place during the ADM consideration of the EC report.
• Media Training. The EC is investigating the provision of media training and the workshop will be an opportunity to consult on what training members/prospective candidates feel they need and how best it might be delivered.
• Election Campaign Issues. A brief introductory session (e.g. on being a candidate, and how to get nominated).

In particular we would like feedback on:

1. Media Training:  Any ideas about training requirements or available expertise (either ‘in-house’ or externally provided).
2. Prospective New Speakers and Election Candidates.  Any training and guidance needs you may have or could offer new speakers.  Also, if you would be interested in participating in a practice session during this workshop or a later date.

We are happy to hear from you irrespective of whether you can attend the workshop.

The formal proposal for the workshop which the EC agreed last month is as follows:

Suggested Workshop(s) to coincide with ADM 2014

This follows on from discussions between members involved in the recent election campaign and decisions made at the EC in June 2014: “The need emerged for training candidates to answer questions from the media and also to pass the Speakers Test (as under Rule 27 only members who had passed this could stand as a candidate on their own) … “Motion 18: It was agreed that Comrade Mann and Shodeke would investigate the possibility of media training, respectively from outside and inside the party and that the election committee review the Speakers Test to see if it could be made more directly relevant to being a candidate.”.

Proposal

Introductory workshop(s) to coincide with ADM 2014 to cover:

1. Speakers and Candidates Test / Training. To (hopefully) introduce the new test and provide guidance on preparing for taking both tests. The workshop could also include some practical training on public speaking (see suggestions below) and/or be followed up with more such activity at a later date;
2. Campaign/Candidate Guidance (see below);
3. Media Training. A discussion on training and development opportunities identified by the EC and an opportunity to consult on what training members/prospective candidates feel they need and how best they might be delivered.

This proposal opens up the suggested training for prospective candidates to all interested members. The EC will need to ensure that Motion 18 of its 6^thmeeting will be delivered well enough in advance of the workshop to have some definite options to discuss.  Someone will also need to be found to organise and promote the workshop.

The workshop may identify further training and development activities which the EC has not already considered.

There will then need to be a quick turn round once member’s needs are identified to deliver them in time for the campaign.

Suggested Content (a and b)

New Speakers/Candidates Test & Training

• Introduction to both  the new ‘candidates’ test and full speakers test
• Discussion on content of the tests
• Guidance on preparation for taking the test (including training/study)
• Practical Skills
• Practice Sessions

Campaign/Candidate Guidance (Parliamentary and local government)

• Getting nominated
• Legal issues
• Campaign ‘do’s and don’ts’

Robert Cox, 26 July 2014 [heading corrected 08/09/14]

[Brian]

Hi Rob,By coincidence I'm taking a media course tomorrow, courtesy of RCT Homes a housingassociation, cost £300.  Its titled 'Preparing for Media interviews'.  It covers: How themedia works; Key messages workshops; Interview Techniques; Interview role play; LiveInterview; Conclusion; Evaluation.  I'll keep you posted on how it goes, sometime over theweekend.I've also got some publicity handout courtesy of Tesco, which can be adapted for aworkshop. 

[Anonymous]

I think the workshop is an excellent idea  and I hope there is a decent turn outIf I may make an observation: The order in which a candidate presents the case is important. We are likely to asked 'What do you stand for?'I know we are often restricted by time but I think it is a major error to blurt out "we stand for the abolition of money, states and free access to all goods and services".It immediately gives the advantage to the reformists and besides it is not  what we stand for.As any 'voter' knows that if MPs abolished money and states tomorrows we would have chaos.   

[Anonymous]

I meant to add that this is the way we will be perceived 

[Anonymous]

Another point I would make – If the party has a one minute interview on Sky News, for example, shouldn't our speaker be instructed as a parliamentary delegate would be? Or do we just say "Do your best'?     

[Brian]

Vin Maratty wrote:

Another point I would make – If the party has a one minute interview on Sky News, for example, shouldn't our speaker be instructed as a parliamentary delegate would be? Or do we just say "Do your best'?  

The likelyhood is that the candidate would only have a short notice on the title of the interview.  So instructions on how to respond is unrealistic.  Nonetheless, the new speakers test and the candidates test is so designed to cover this issue.

[Anonymous]

Brian, even with a short notice we can prepare for  and anticipate obvious questions like 'who are you?' and 'what do you stand for?' edit: How is it proposed that members unable to attend can have an input? 

[Brian]

Vin Maratty wrote:

Brian, even with a short notice we can prepare for  and anticipate obvious questions like 'who are you?' and 'what do you stand for?' edit: How is it proposed that members unable to attend can have an input? 

After completing the course the "preparation" is much more in depth than you seem to be suggesting and essential for confidence.  We were given 3 different scenario: For the first we had 15 minutes to write up our preparation; for the second 10 minutes; for the third 3 minutes.  There is only so much you can anticipate and your preparation needs to cover the not so obvious for the media have their own agenda to cover.If you want to provide input either contact Rob directly or PM him.

[steve colborn]

Can these sessions be recorded for those who cannot attend but who would like to peruse the outcomes?

[Brian]

steve colborn wrote:

Can these sessions be recorded for those who cannot attend but who would like to peruse the outcomes?

All the interview scenarios on the media training I done are obviously recorded for the trainee's.  If the whole course were to be recorded you are looking at 6 hrs of vid.  But I suspect what you want are the training sessions/workshops at HO to be recorded in the hope they will save you attending HO. Although they will come in useful you are going to lose out on the essential interaction between the participants.  So I would advise you attend the training sessions/workshops.  Also come to think of it , depending on the party hiring a consultant, I doubt very much if would be willing to let the 6 hrs go without a fee.Nothing is settled as yet.  Its still early stages.

[Anonymous]

I think 'Our Object 'answers the first question in a nutshell.It then throws the interviewer onto examination mode.

[steve colborn]

Hi Brian. I have attended this type of course during my 5 yrs on the Board of East Durham Homes. Also, over the past 20 yrs, I have plenty of personal experience of dealing with thye Media. What I was looking for, is an ability to cross pollinate my own experienes with the ideas discussed in this/these, session/sessions and therefore draw conclusion!In a perfect world, I would like nothing better than to interact with other Party members in these workshops. Physical disability precludes this course of action however. Nevertheless, I would appreciate any feedback obtained from these sessions, for future reference and use.Best of luck to all

[robert.cox]

Speakers Test: The proposed "Modern Speakers Test"The draft of the proposed new test was discussed by the EC on 6th September and, as has been announced, has been circulated for consultation as part of the EC report to ADM next month.To answer a question, I think we can assume the consultation will be on the questions rather than answers. I think we will have to leave the latter to the judgement of the examiners.The EC has yet (pending consultation) to adopt the text, but as I recollect did agree to request addition of a quesion on immigration/population (which appears in the existing test as question #22).I am sure that every Branch will be looking foward to discussing the suggested new text, and will be assisted by this if as many members as possible are able to see the text in advance.Here is the text as it appeared on the EC agenda last week (the layout may not be the same as I have had to copy it from another file format):"This Modern Speakers’ Test is designed to replace what became known as the ‘New Speakers’ Test’ in the previous century. In many ways it representsa break from the past. This is because the previous test was really a knowledge test, and was sometimes explicitly referred to as such by Partymembers. In particular, it was a test of knowledge of Marxian theory, especially Marxian economics, and some of its key definitions.Knowledge of Marxism is still important, though the previous test had become outdated in many ways. Rarely if ever will a Party representative now be asked whether peasants produce surplus value. In the modern media age, lines of questioning are more likely to require Party representatives to applytheir socialist understanding, rather repeat stock definitions. This test is designed to prepare interested candidates for such situations. A number of the questions appear to be ‘closed’ ie requiring ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers for this reason, a common technique of interviewers trying to expose contradictions or entice an interviewee into an overly stark response they are then unable to defend.When you read the questions below it might help to imagine them being asked by Andrew Neil, Jeremy Paxman or Evan Davis. . . there is also a natural ‘flow’ in that the likely answer to one question generally prompts the next one.Finally, it should be noted that this test should be applied in the context of wider media training for aspirant Party speakers and candidates.* More people are thriving today under capitalism than ever before, and with higher standards of living – is it really so bad?* Why not unite with some of the other socialist parties? Surely more can be achieved in unison than in isolation?* Without doubt previous attempts to construct socialism were disastrous weren’t they?* Why are you so hostile to the state? Don’t most people feel it is there to help and protect them?* If democracy in capitalism is a sham, why does the Socialist Party stand in elections?* Would a Socialist Party representative elected to parliament take the oath of allegiance?* Why bother standing in local elections? What do you hope to achieve?* In practice, what reforms would the Socialist Party be prepared to support?* When the Socialist Party takes state control, won’t you create a dictatorship of the proletariat?* Does the Socialist Party always support the actions of trade unions?* Why do you always seem to support wage increases? Don’t they cause inflation and often damage the economy?* Don’t Marxists believe that capitalism will collapse?* If you believe in democracy why don’t you believe in wars for democracy? Didn’t you even oppose the Second World War?* Isn’t it the case that you’re really a bunch of pacifists?* Don’t you support the rights of ‘oppressed peoples’ like the Palestinians?* Wouldn’t people like the Scottish and Welsh be better off if they could control their own destinies?* Isn’t it true that all of us living in the developed ‘First World’ exploit those in the so-called ‘Third World’?* Do you support or oppose the European Union?* Isn’t the class struggle now just antiquated nonsense?* Why do you support industrialism? Doesn’t it lead to pollution and unemployment?* Does the Socialist Party believe in ‘zero growth’?* Wouldn’t socialism involve those who refuse to work exploiting those who do?* The SPGB presumably believes in British socialism. How would this work?* In a socialist society, who would do the ‘dirty work’?* How efficient would socialism be? Would surgeons perform operationswhen needed? Would the trains run on time – if at all?* Hasn’t history proved people are just innately aggressive?* You sound like anarchists. Are you. . . ?* Why is the Socialist Party so hostile to religion? Can’t religious people have socialist beliefs too?* Capitalism is the basis of innovation and entrepreneurship. Why do you seem so opposed to this?* Do you believe in taxing the rich out of existence?* Don’t people have the right to take home the fruits of their labour withoutit being taken in tax?* You imply that poverty causes crime, but shouldn’t people always take responsibility for their own actions?* If competition is so bad, do you think competitive sport should be abolished?* How can society possibly function without leaders?* If the Socialist Party has no leaders, who are you to represent them?* If the working class runs society from top to bottom and is as clever as you say, why have they been rejecting socialism for over a century?"NB  Sorry about the line spacing – its been copied from another location and not too well.

[Brian]

It lacks a question on the environment.

[rodmanlewis]

Then there are these extra questions:Q: How many members do you have?Q: It is noticed that some founding members of your organisation left and joined reformist organisations. Can you explain this?Q: When socialism is established, will you open the prisons and let everyone out?Q: What will be the driving force in a socialist society. What will motivate people to get up in the morning?Q. Will socialism be a static society?

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