Join Neal Lawson, Andrew George, Barry Langford and Andree Frieze for the launch of South West Surrey Compass’ book A New Way of Doing Politics – working together to challenge a “safe” Tory seat  – about their progressive alliance campaign at the General Election.

Sign up and buy your copy here 

About the book:

Conventional wisdom says that Tory “safe” seats cannot be challenged. However, in South West Surrey, the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP became the lightning rod for  those suffering from Tory ‘austerity’.

In the few weeks before the 2017 snap general election local progressive parties rallied around an exceptional candidate: London general medical practitioner, Dr Louise Irvine. She had crossed Jeremy Hunt’s path before, in the 2015 general election, and in the courts (where she had won – twice). Now she returned to his home territory to challenge his seat in government.

An informal on-the-ground progressive alliance of novice and experienced activists worked tirelessly in support of Dr Irvine’s campaign. This is the story of what happened, what was learned from this process, why Tory safe seats need to be challenged and how these lessons can help others.