Ash had long decided that they would be opening their campaign by coming to Littlemoor. This small suburb north of Weymouth was once deemed among the 10 percent most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, and this has come with a stigma of anti-social behaviour, rat infestations and an overall negative conception. Believing Coalition! policies can overturn this view, Ash set out to discuss with residents their concerns.

Ash began by meeting with retail workers within Littlemore Shopping Centre. Just walking around the campaign team could see a damaged shop entrance with tape over the glass door. One resident, let’s call her Pamela because that’s her name, said how the reputation was hurting them.

“This area has such potential. It could become a hub which draws in people across Weymouth and the wider Dorset area, but right now if you say Littlemoor it isn’t somewhere families would want to bring their kids shopping. Hell, it isn’t somewhere you see politicians coming very often, especially not national politicians like MPs.”

Ash was horrified to learn this.

“I couldn’t agree with you more, there is such a big potential here. Potential that hasn’t been harnessed by successive coalitions in Westminster. It saddens me, and I want to change it. For example, it was Coalition! which argued strongly for a Towns Fund in a budget last year, and we would utilise this money to invest in LIttlemoor and places like it across Dorset. Because that money could do so much. It could smarten the area up, provide new opportunities for young people who feel they have nothing better to do then mindless vandalism. We also need to combine this with an increased police presence to deter this kind of behaviour. We want real local policing, not the type that simple makes politicians in westminster feel like we are giving local people power. So we will review the role of police and crime commissioners and abolish them if they prove to be failing, and in return we will prioritise the recruitment and retainment of community policing and liason officers which can become a contact point between communities like Littlemoor and the police. That is how you tackle anti-social behaviour. You could say we are going to be tough on crime, and tough on the causes of crime.

I do want to correct something you said though, and I know that is something you should never say to a voter! I am not a national politician. Coalition! may have a slate of old timey politicians who have served in government, but at our heart we are here to serve our local community, the one we are seeking to be elected for. Because, if elected, it is on your behalf that we would be working.”

After finishing up touring the shopping centre, Ash went to canvas local residents in nearby council homes to discuss how investing in the area would improve their lives.