By-election candidates

Liberal Democrat: Ian Stotesbury, aerospace engineer and Lib Dem activist
Conservative: Richard Harrington, property developer
Labour: Chris Ostrowski, TESOL company CEO
UKIP: Ian Green, UKIP Watford chair
Green: Alex Murray, GPEW activist and criminal defence barrister

WATFORD LEAFLET I 

On one side, the following graphic.

On the other side, a picture of Ian Stotesbury, campaigning with other Lib Dem activists. There is a short blurb describing the local candidate and the selling point of the campaign.

“Ian Stotesbury is a committed champion for the people of Watford. As your MP, he will be a tireless advocate on local campaigns and work for pragmatic, compassionate and truly accountable government in Westminster. The two party system has failed Watford and it has failed the country - vote Liberal Democrat to change that.”

There is also, at the bottom, both the legally required text and contact details, allowing the recipient to get in touch with the candidate, either to discuss issues, to request GOTV support, or to offer support.

Alex Cardigan joined with local activists & the Liberal Democrat candidate, Ian Stotesbury in Watford for mainstreeting on key talking points. These included:

• The Liberal Democrats have always stood up for Watford. Our record in local government is impeccable with fantastic Mayors and Councillors being stewards of the community over the years. Ian Stotesbury is a fantastic local candidate who will continue that great tradition of putting communities and constituents first in Watford. Local, grassroots, community politics is the trademark of the Liberals and now Liberal Democrats, and this is a shining example of how we can provide good local voices for areas across Britain. 
• Our politics is as divided and petty as ever. Our partners in government may mean well, but have their divisions. The opposition wish to drag us out of Europe & struggle to keep such a broad tent together. Only the Liberal Democrats provide a clear vision for Britain based on unity, openness, and tolerance. We are a contrast to business as usual politics, and former Conservatives like me have a home in the Lib Dems now. We are the party of unity.
• Liberal Democrat influence in government is ensuring that the deficit is falling at the same time as we are investing in public services. That is a major achievement that before Lib Dems entered government, we thought impossible. Our party is ambitious for the British people and working hard to ensure that moderate, sensible economic policy based on evidence and rooted in expertise. Only the Liberal Democrats can keep Britain on the course to economic prosperity and fiscal responsibility.

End of Day 1 marker.

Dylan Macmillan went to Watford to mainstreet, here were some of his main talking points:

On tax he said:

• Let's compare the two economic records on display here. The Liberal Democrats supported a budget that cut taxes on the average worker by £200 and a budget that increased taxes on businesses by nearly £1bn. The Conservative Party's Budget would cut taxes on the average worker by £800 and give small and medium businesses an enormous tax cut. Imagine what an £800/yr tax cut for workers combined with lower business taxes would do to the Watford High Street? High streets across the country are coming under increasing strain thanks to this Government's reckless tax, spend, borrow agenda, let's use this by-election to send a message to the Government that the people want their taxes cut properly rather than lies promising a £1000 tax cut and tricks to pretend they're cutting taxes on business

On the candidate, Richard Harrington, Macmillan said;

• Richard is a committed businessman who knows what it takes to succeed. As a property developer he is uniquely positioned both to be an asset to Watford in terms of reforming the planning laws to promote house building and end the decades long house price bubble that prevents young people from getting on the property ladder, and to be an asset to the country in his understanding of how businesses operate and succeed. Richard knows that flooding out private capital with reckless borrowing is not good for anyone, least of all the people of Watford, the Government's plans have left us with debt that will take decades to pay off whilst tax cuts have dwindled and in many cases taxes have actually increased. A vote for Richard is a vote for a Conservative Party candidate who supports the policies that had growth increasing faster than this Government and had prices rising more slowly than this Government. Richard is the man with a plan for Watford and for the United Kingdom.

Dylan finished off by speaking about the debt and deficit that the Lib Dems were complicit in racking up, along with their numerous u-turns.

• The problem with the Liberal Democrats is that you never know what you're going to get with them. For four years we worked with them through thick and thin to bring down the deficit and make work pay, within a year they managed to increase the deficit with reckless borrowing and unpick many crucial welfare reforms and university funding changes that they themselves voted for not half a decade prior. Their u-turns mean that this year university funding was cut in real terms, their u-turns mean that in the future our children and their children will be paying off the debt that this Government accumulated at a time when we need to be paying our own way, their u-turns mean that this year the average worker is than £600 pounds worse off than they would be under a Conservative-led Government. That is what the Liberal Democrats being in power has meant for Watford. Our young people aren't getting the university funding they should be, they will be paying £600 more in tax than they should be, and they will be paying of our national debt for longer than they should be. This Government has not been working for working people in this country, send them a message by voting for Richard and the Conservative Party, the party of lower taxes, lower debt, and higher university funding.

Mr. Brigham went to Watford to support the local Conservative candidate, Mr. Richard Harrington,

Speaking to one voter concerned about the economy, Mr. Brigham said:

“Conservatives are the ones of the party of wealth creation beucase we have people like Richard that know how to create it.  A few years ago, Watford was one of the cities leading job creation in Britain, having an unemployment rate below the national average, this was under a Conservative MP, this was under Richard Harrington as your loyal MP, and the most important of all, this was under a Conservative Government in Britain. Watford is a great business center that creates wealth and jobs, our companies need the support of Government to grow, and this is not happening right now, LibDems and their Labour allies increased taxes on businesses by nearly £1 bn, LibDems are showing that they don’t know Watford and the needs of its people, they are hitting job creators, don’t be fooled, a vote for LibDems is a vote for higher taxes for our job creators and a vote for more unemployment, economically, they are doing what Labour ask them to do, and Watford doesn’t have good memories of Labour governments. So let’s support Conservatives”

Speaking to a second voter, a young girl, Mr. Brigham said:

“You will go to University soon,  young people are the future of this country and we should invest in you, it should be one of the main priorities of Government, unfortunately, that’s not happening right know, young people are paying more taxes than it should be, and this with LibDems in Government, those that claim to be the solution to all the nightmares of the people, LibDems say one thing an they they do another, because they are dependent of Labour and vice versa, we need a strong Conservative majority that has no chains and can act without depending on others, because it’s the time to rise funding for our universities, because it’s the time to invest in you, like we have done when we were in Government, Conservatives have a proven record of low taxes and strong welfare State.”

Speaking on Richard Harrington, conservative candidate, Mr. Brigham said:

“Richard is a good friend of mine, I know him for a long time, both we were elected in 2010 to serve our constituents, and I know that he has done a great job during all the years in Westminster. He has the best profile and is the best candidate to serve Watford, he knows the constituency well, he knows the importances of business to grow and create wealth and jobs, he is a businessman that knows how to create jobs, he did it during his business career and will do it again as MP representin you. As businessman he faced the disastrous economic plan of LibDems and their Labour allies, and knows that the economy of Watford is worst now than under Conservative governments, because we all know that we are the party of welfare, low taxes and job creation, I ask you to support Richard and let’s change this country!”

Douglas Byrne went mainstreeting in Watford, knocking on doors and talking to constituents.

Talking about the economy, Douglas said:

• Conservative tax plans would put £800 back in your pocket this year
• Small businesses would be supported by a dramatic cut in business rates and corporation tax
• Capital gains tax would be abolished, with a long-term aim to abolish national insurance and scrap the prescription charge
• The Conservatives were committed to housebuilding, and would continue to support and expand the right to buy
• Inflation was up and growth down under Labour, whilst the Lib Dems had waved through a disastrous budget which sought to renege on the triple lock promise
• The Conservative plan would see unprecedented investment in green technologies, including fast electric charging points at all petrol stations by 2020

Talking about foreign policy, Douglas said:

• Only the Conservatives could and would deliver a referendum on Europe, offering a once-in-a-lifetime in/out choice for voters who have been given no voice for decades
• The Conservatives would promote British business around the world
• The Conservatives had a plan to reform the EU, making it more democratic and agreeing an “emergency brake” to prevent EU migrants from accessing benefits
• Labour’s savage defence cuts had left our country unprepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century; the Conservatives were proposing massive investment in military resources and an ambitious new pay deal for servicemen and women

Discussing crime, Douglas said:

• Labour were weak on drugs and weak on crime, and the government had underfunded the police and prisons services
• The Conservatives would ensure better, more visible policing

Discussing the Conservatives’ record in Opposition, Douglas said:

• The Conservatives had forced the government to reinstate the triple lock after trying to scrap it
• The Conservatives had passed major legislation without a majority whilst the government’s legislative programme had floundered
• The Conservatives had won the battle over the refugee crisis, forcing the government to think again on its plan to accept 250,000 refugees without adequate security checks or social provision
• The Conservatives were a government-in-waiting, ready to take over the reins and lead Britain forwards

Standing upon a soapbox in the town centre, Douglas said:

This by-election represents a real chance to send a message to Westminster. After the debacle of the budget that never was, the Reform Bill kerfuffle, the cacophonous catastrophe of the refugee settlement and the shortest Premiership in British history, this Labour/Lib Dem government has badly lost its way.

A Conservative victory in Watford tomorrow sends a very clear signal that we will not tolerate sub-standard governance and sub-standard governors. It tells the government firmly that we, the people, demand a fresh general election to hold the government to account for breaking its promises left, right and centre. Most of all, it shows the government that there is an alternative: a modern, progressive, ambitious Conservative offer, an Opportunity Agenda, which will put the United Kingdom back on the right path and restore competence to the heart of Westminster.

Leaflet

Mainstreeting

Graham Adiputera joined local activists and the candidate, Ian Stotesbury, for mainstreeting on key talking points:

• The achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government, being the only party standing for compassionate, principled, pragmatic government, delivering dozens of manifesto promises that are making real differences for ordinary people. The economic record is strong - we’re still seeing growth, unemployment is falling, wages are rising at a far faster rate than before and outpacing inflation, the deficit is falling at a far faster rate than it would have been under the Conservative plan. Under the Liberal Democrats, we are seeing far more action on tax evasion. We are seeing regulatory relief and certainty for small businesses and more support for start-up and scale-up enterprises. We are seeing new finance and patient capital options for small businesses and investment in building new homes, revolutionising long-neglected infrastructure and public transport and far more investment in green technologies than the Conservatives would ever offer. 
• We are strong on our values and have stood firm on them at every turn, adding a unique and progressive voice to British politics. We are promoting environmentalism, civil liberties, political reform and equality, standing firm for principles such as LGBT+ equality, opposition to discrimination and securing votes at 16. The bedroom tax has been repealed, action has been taken on period poverty and homelessness, mental health and social care are being given proper attention, public sector pay caps have been lifted, 20,000 new police officers have been hired, and there are billions of pounds more being invested in our schools and hospitals - all actions the Conservatives voted against.
• Watford Liberal Democrats have a long history of working hard for and securing countless successes for their communities, helping support community-led campaigns that get results. Our local candidate, Ian Stotesbury, has been at the coal face fighting to protect Watford’s public transport links, protect local green spaces, reverse Conservative-imposed council cuts and make Watford an even greater place to live. Unlike the Conservatives - who suggest Watford’s greatness is conditional on who its MP is - a strong constituency MP is just one of many things that will help make Watford continue to be a great place to live and work. Ian Stotesbury will be just such a great MP. 
• While Labour has been caught in turmoil and the Conservatives sink to greater and greater lows - lying about pensions, lying about refugees, insulting their political opponents, tearing themselves apart over Europe and criticising Labour for failing a standard Dylan Macmillan himself failed to meet - the Liberal Democrats have been a unified and effective force. We have secured dozens of policy changes and changed countless lives for the better and have not been caught up in internal squabbles like the other parties.

Watford Leaflet Day II

The first page of the leaflet is taken up by a “TWO COMPETING VISIONS FOR WATFORD” item. On one side, Graham Adiputera, Stephen Crosher and local Lib Dem activists. On the other, Dylan Macmillan, Douglas Byrne, and William Croft looking shady. 

On the side with the Lib Dems:

• Green Investment
• More Homes Built
• More Funds for Public Transport
• Investment in Schools and NHS

On the side with the Tories:

• Hypocrisy - Dylan Macmillan describing conduct he himself did as “a scandal and an outrage”
• Personal Attacks
• Real Terms Cuts for Disadvantaged Students
• Broken Promises

On the back page of the leaflet, there is a short message from Graham Adiputera. 

“Dear Local Resident,

The upcoming by-election is a choice between Ian Stotesbury - a committed local activist and Liberal Democrat campaigner - and the Conservative Party, which is currently tearing itself apart over Europe, flip-flopping on issues like foreign aid and public transport, and defending Dylan Macmillan’s criticisms of the government that his own premiership would have failed. No other party can win in Watford. The polls show a two-way race. 

If you want a devoted local champion, vote Ian. If you want someone who will work hard for you, vote Ian. Liberal Democrat MPs have secured countless successes over the course of the past few years - the pension triple lock, the pupil premium, a higher tax-free personal allowance, stronger action on climate change and on the burning injustices in our society, equal marriage. Ian Stotesbury will be a strong addition to these efforts. 

Yours sincerely,

Graham Adiputera

[signature]”

At the bottom of the page there is both the legally required text and a form that can be cut out, allowing the recipient to get in touch with the candidate, either to discuss issues, to request GOTV assistance, or to offer support.