Standing on the sands looking out towards the pier, Bayo Alaba is one of the Labour candidates hoping the tide is turning in seats such as Southend East and Rochford.
Long neglected by Labour, the seat is one of the Tory strongholds that could go red, with Alaba emblematic of a new kind of Labour candidate, a businessman and former parachute regiment soldier who spent D-day doing a sponsored jump for the Royal British Legion.
Alaba says: "This has been a Labour ambition that has never been realised. We are backing ourselves. We can talk to people here, we can support their lives and community. Southend is full of working people, independently minded, and they are frustrated with the state of their city."
Essex man is a totemic concept for the Tories: patriotic, self-made and first associated with backing Margaret Thatcher. Labour held a clutch of seats during the Blair years but since the party has been out of government none has ever returned. Yet now the county is firmly in the sights of Labour strategists for Keir Starmer to better Tony Blair's 1997 majority, the only way is Essex.
The Labour leader has visited Thurrock twice in the past month, with shadow cabinet ministers flocking to Harlow, Southend and Colchester. Polls predict as many as nine seats could go red, but voters on many doorsteps are still telling candidates that they are undecided.
This story is from the June 21, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 21, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Russell handed win after Norris and Verstappen clash
The record books will show that this race was won by George Russell in a Mercedes, with Oscar Piastri second for McLaren and Carlos Sainz third for Ferrari. It is Russell's second F1 victory and the first for his team since the 26-year-old from King's Lynn took the flag in Brazil in 2022.
Relaxed Raducanu swaps chaos for calm while Murray continues his battle for fitness
Former US Open champion and veteran Scot arrive at Wimbledon in wildly contrasting frames of mind
Murray 'hoping for closure' as he strives to get fit for a last hurrah at Wimbledon
Andy Murray says he is looking for \"a bit of closure\" to his career as he continues his race against time to be fit for a final appearance at Wimbledon before he retires from professional tennis.
Hardy desert moss offers ray of hope for cultivating life on Mars
While Matt Damon relied on potatoes cultivated in crew biowaste to survive in his hit film The Martian, researchers say it is a humble desert moss that might prove pivotal to establishing life on Mars.
Resetting foreign ties Lammy will need to send clear signals
David Lammy will be the first Labour foreign secretary succeeding a Conservative government since Robin Cook in 1997, if Labour triumphs in the general election.
'What's going to change?" Hope lacking in towns devastated by Tory rule
There were about 30 people standing outside Birmingham central mosque, and they formed as diverse a crowd as the city's population. It was food bank day: inside a portable building in the car park, a team of four spirited women were efficiently sorting through crates of groceries, and handing those who had finally reached the front of the line what they needed.
Reform UK Farage seeks distance from 'bad apples' as disillusioned candidate quits
Nigel Farage has sought to distance himself from \"bad apples\" in Reform UK amid continuing allegations of prejudice in its ranks and the resignation of a candidate who cited concerns about the behaviour and conduct of others in the party.
'Hope has been kicked out of people' Sleeves rolled up, Starmer sets out to restore Britain's faith in politics
In just five days, Keir Starmer could be walking through the famous black door of No 10 as the country's new prime minister.
Review Peerlessly professional pop-punk
If Shania Twain's legends slot feels timely given the amount of pop-country in the UK singles chart, you could say the same thing about Avril Lavigne's performance, which seems like a legends slot in all but name. Poppunk is very much a thing again, and no artist can claim to have made punk more pop than Lavigne did in the early 2000s, refashioning its sound as bratty but harmless tweenage entertainment.
Music review Thigh-slapping country glamour still impresses
Long before Shania Twain began her set on the Pyramid stage, there were signs of building anticipation in the double denim and cowboy hats.
