GEXIII [Kent] Troe announces ‘poll-bus’ initiative

Troe is holding a small press conference with some assembled local press as well as a few from national news outlets. Behind him is a backdrop with Labour and Labour South East logos. On his one side is the chair of the Kent Labour Party and on the other side a local politician for Labour.

“Thank you all for joining us today as we announce the Kent ‘poll-bus’ initiative. While the initiative has been started by the Kent Labour Party in cooperation with myself, it isn’t really partisan in nature.

“We pledge to bring as many citizens in all of Kent to their polling station, no matter their party affiliation or what they plan to vote for. Of course we hope as many people as possible will vote for me and my party, but what really matters to us is that everyone gets the chance to vote. Luckily today there are other options than going to your polling station, but if on polling day you realise your car broke down or the bus leaves too late or something else, then we’re here to help. If people call us or visit the Kent Labour Party’s website at kentlabour.org.uk then they can sign up to be picked up. We hope to have enough volunteers to get everyone to their polling station, but we'd be happy to welcome even more volunteers than from the local Labour party chapters and trade unions. Everyone is welcome to volunteer as well. Democracy is everyone’s responsibility.”

Troe pulls the cover away from a big poster on a stand behind him.

The Poll Bus Initiative poster

“This is what our poster for the initiative looks like. Our volunteers and canvassers will be handing them out and hanging them up all day today, and of course I’ll be helping as well. So that’s what I plan to spend the rest of the day on. If you have any questions, now would be the time, because else we have a lot of work to do.”

The press had a few questions which Troe answered and then a few pictures were taken of him next to the poster and the two other participants. They then moved out to meet the volunteers who had already spent an hour or so hanging up posters and handing them out and putting them in people’s mailboxes.

“Now, of course we’d be happy for some publicity for this, so take plenty of pictures; however, when you’ve had your pictures we wouldn’t mind a helping hand either,” Troe told the few press people that had followed along. He meant it mostly as a joke it seemed.