----- Original Message -----
From: "Nigel Stanley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 6:57 PM
Subject: Re: [canals-list] Re: John Prescott trumpets canals
> On 04/10/06, Sue Burchett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> >Subject: [canals-list] Re: John Prescott t
>> >well snipped
>> >I'd be happy to keep track of any volunteers and act as central clearing
>> >house.
>> >Will Chapman
>> >nb Quidditch - all fired up!
>>
>> I think it is excellent that the internet community has got involved but
>> please >work with the user groups and compliment their work, don't
>> duplicate it or even >inadvertently sabotage it.
>> Sue nb Nackered Navvy
>>
>
> Will is right to see this as urgent, but Sue is also right to say that
> it is important to plan and work together. Politics is a tricky and
> subtle area, and it is vital to have a proper strategy and campaign
> plan. Boater demos could well be part of that, but on their own are
> unlikely to win much. Frankly there are not enough boater votes to
> shift an election, and not that many boaters will simply vote as
> boaters in any case. There are other important issues.
>
> In running a campaign like this, it's first important to work out
> exactly what you want and who can deliver it.
>
> Then you try and mobilise every argument and every influence you can
> on the key decision makers.
>
> For a start the waterways interest goes much, much wider than boaters.
> There are all the other leisure users. There are those with
> regeneration interests. Those that make their living from the
> waterways, and local economies that depend to some extent on a healthy
> waterways system. How do you get them to work together?
>
> Which are the sympathetic ministers? Probably John Prescott, but who
> else? Do any have canal/waterways links? Special interest in
> regeneration? How can you help them make the case within government?
>
> What about MPs with canal links? Particularly Labour MPs in marginal
> seats. How do you involve your supporters in campaigns?
>
> How do you link this with other issues such as the 2012 Olympics given
> the importance of waterways to the regeneration plans?
>
> How do you turn this into a media issue, both locally - particularly
> where there are MP targets - and nationally? Waterways campaigning
> makes for good pictures!
>
> Who are the opponents, or obstacles? How do you deal with them?
>
> And how do you win without humiliating your opponents, so they they
> don't even realise they have lost.
>
> The Government's comprehensive spending review is currently taking
> place, and will decide spending for the next three years. It will be
> tight - public spending will not grow as it has in recent years, and
> health and education will be the priorities.
>
> But it does provide the opportunity for changes in priorities and a
> new deal for the waterways.
>
> A few brief hurried thoughts that might help the debate. It's more or
> less what I do for a living, so I hope they help.
>
> --
> Nigel Stanley
>
Congratulations.
Sue nb Nackered Navvy
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