In December of last year, the Labour Party initiated the process of selecting candidates for the general election in 211 constituencies in England categorized as ‘non-battleground.’ The term ‘non-battleground’ suggests that Labour does not intend to actively engage in the electoral competition in these areas. These 211 constituencies make up 39% of all seats in England.
These constituencies are perceived by the Labour headquarters as having slim winning chances or already being under Labour’s control with minimal risk of losing. Notably, among the three seats in Reading Borough, only Reading West and Mid Berkshire are part of this list.
It’s disconcerting that one of the major political parties in the UK is essentially disregarding two-fifths of the available seats in the largest country of the UK. This means that Labour voters in Reading West and Mid Berkshire may feel neglected.
This issue extends beyond Labour voters, affecting Conservatives, Democrats, and even Green campaigners focusing on battleground areas. Residents in non-battleground seats not only miss out on local campaigning but also find their needs overlooked in party manifestos, which typically target voters in battleground seats. Once in power, political parties tend to prioritize the interests of those in battleground seats, shaping the entire political system around catering to the specific concerns of individuals residing between Labour’s secure urban seats and the Conservatives’ safe rural seats.
Typically, Reading West and Mid Berkshire wouldn’t be considered winnable, but the landscape has changed. Numerous seats, once labeled as ‘non-battleground,’ are now abundant. With Labour not allocating national campaign resources to Reading west due to its non-battleground status, the responsibility falls on local party members to carry out the work.
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