Labour targets Watford (From Watford Observer)

Labour targets Watford seat

11:43am Tuesday 18th January 2011 in News By Michael Pickard

Labour Party activists are taking part in the relaunch of Third Place First - a campaign to reclaim constituency seats where the party now lies in third.

Watford, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead are among 13 seats won by Labour when Tony Blair first became Prime Minister in 1997 but have since changed colour.

These three constituencies are now in the hands of Conservative MPs.

In the 1990s Labour launched Third Place First and Labour organisation Progress is now set to relaunch the campaign tonight (Tuesday).

Local activists will join Labour members from other seats where Labour is in third place to discuss strategies for developing their local party machinery, campaigning with minimal resources and how to make an impact locally.

Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s shadow education secretary and election co-ordinator, will launch the campaign in the House of Commons.

He said: “January's victory in David Cameron's back yard of Witney, and the first election of a Labour candidate to Cornwall Council - leaping from fifth to first place - shows that Labour can still win in non-traditional areas.

“Third Place First is a campaign bringing together parties in currently non-Labour seats such as Watford to share campaigning expertise and encourage Labour people onto the doorstep.

“Whether in Oldham or Oxfordshire, it is a real presence across the entire country that will win for Labour in the years to come.”