On Saturday 21st November there was a small (around 50) protest, march and rally on behalf of the Refugees Welcome Campaign. There were various groups attending, from Swindon Anarchists to The Green Party. The one thing they all had in common was that they wanted to show solidarity with the refugees and that more should be allowed into the country.
Category Archives: Political
A Swindon Photographers Experience of Election 2015
First off I want to say that this is not a political article and does not reflect where I stand and which way I voted, it is more about my experience as a freelance photographer in Swindon for the last couple of weeks leading up to Election Day. It has culminated in some 4 images in the Guardian, Sunday Times, The Sun and in a number of political blogs, and that is all of what I know about there could be others. With the exception of one image of the P.M. all were of Labour personalities.
It started off by my understanding of the fact that both Swindon South and North were marginal seats and that the major parties were going to send their ‘Big Guns’ down to help and support the campaign.
I had to sort of bully my way in to get on invite lists. I was not comfortable with this as it is not my style and it could have gone the wrong way and I could have ended up being excluded from everything. Fortunately persistence paid off and I got on the press lists.
Interestingly the Conservative campaign was being run from a central office whereas the Labour campaign was run from a local South West Office. I wanted to point this out as it turned out there was only one Conservative event whilst there was several Labour.
The Conservative Party decided to launch their party manifesto in Swindon. Which I attended and photographed. Security was very tight as not only David Cameron was there but most of the Cabinet and other MP’s from the South West. It was really interesting to say the least.
Apart from meeting Robert Buckland whilst out campaigning and at the poling station that was it for the Conservatives.
Labour were much better as once I was on the list then I got invited to everything that was going on in (mainly) South Swindon.
I ended up photographing Dan Jarvis, Tristram Hunt, Caroline Flint, Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband.
Anne Snelgrove was great, once she knew who I was and trusted me she made sure that at any shoots the ‘Big Gun’ posed for me and in some cases introduced me to them.
The Green party, Tony Hillier local campaign manager, I met by accident not by planning and so got invited to a couple of activities but very low key. Interestingly whilst I was sat in a local Cafe having coffee before meeting a Green Party activist who was going to cycle around The Magic Roundabout with a placard, I saw Talis Kimberly-Fairbourn the Green Party Candidate sat in the Cafe knitting and drinking coffee. This was the day before the election. (Shouldn’t she have been campaigning)?
I saw nothing of the Lib Dems or UKIP at all.
I really got to respect Anne Snelgrove,(Labour) and Robert Buckland,(Conservative). Not only were they very accommodating to me and my requests they both seemed very genuine, caring, hard working and committed to their respective causes and parties. Should I have been surprised, I don’t know but my experience was that they were really nice people and not ‘hard nosed politicians’ which the media can sometime have us believe. I would like to say a big thank you to both Anne and Robert.
Just one more little story which I am not sure how to take. Did I understand it correctly? Is this really what went on? Whilst photographing mainly Asian Labour supporters in a mainly Asian part of Swindon I found myself outside the Poling station, The Asian Liberal Democrat candidate was asked if he had voted for Labour (jokingly) and he answered yes, when asked further was he joking he said no. Begs the question, did he understand what he was being asked? Asian vote, family or politics, real understanding?? I am not sure.
Well, that is it for this Election 2015 and my experience of it. I can only look forward to the Referendum and photographing the campaign for it.
South Swindon Hustings Election 2015
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- South Swindon Hustings
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- Anne Snelgrove
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- Robert Buckland
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- Talis Kinmberley-Fairbourn
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- John Short
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- Anne Snelgrove
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- Robert Buckland
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- Damon Hooton
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- Anne Snelgrove
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- John SHort
Like the previous night it was a nightmare photographing at the Hustings last night.
Last night it was the turn of the candidates for The South Swindon Seat. It was another interesting evening. There was a certain amount of heckling from the audience but it was all well behaved, no seats ripped up and thrown this time.
The candidate for South Swindon are Anne Snelgrove for Labour. Robert Buckland for Conservative. Damon Hooton Lib Dem, John Short UKIP and Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn for the Green Party.
North Swindon Hustings Election 2015
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- North Swindon Hustings
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- North Swindon Candidates
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- Justin Tomlinson Conservative
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- Mark Dempsey Labour
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- Poppy Hebden-Leeder Greens
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- James Faulkner UKIP
Last night was the Hustings for Election 2015 for the North Swindon Candidates. It was interesting and fairly well attended by the public. Photographically it was a bit of a nightmare. The lighting was really really difficult. I didn’t want to use flash so d700 was set to 6400 and hoped for the best. Lots of hot spots etc. Managed a few usable shots.
The candidate are, Justin Tomlinson for Conservative, Mark Dempsey Labour, Poppy Hebden-Leeder Green, Janet Elland Lib Dems and James Faulkner UKIP.
Tonight is the South Swindon, which will be more interesting as I live in South Swindon but I am sure the lighting will still be a nightmare !!!!!
David Cameron launches Conservative Party Manifesto in Swindon
Wow, what a morning. I was photographing at The Conservative Party Manifesto launch here in Swindon this morning.
It was presented by Prime Minister David Cameron but George Osborne and Theresa May both made speeches as well.
I have never seen so many famous faces in one place. The security must have been a nightmare. I think the whole of the Cabinet was there as was Samantha Cameron. Not only that, there were all of the famous journalists that I have only ever seen on TV. And I was in the media room with them.
Star struck, me nooooooo.
Hilary Benn on the Campaign Trail in Swindon
Friday morning I attended a short photo shoot of Hilary Benn Labour MP and Shadow Minister for Local Government and Communities. He was visiting Lotmead Farm just outside of Swindon, as part of the Labour Campaign Trail. It was fun, not only was he very jolly and nice to talk to as was Anne Snelgrove the Labour Candidate for Swindon South I had a good long chat with some of the other photographers there.
Talking to and meeting other journalists is always enjoyable and enlightening.
So just a few shots of Hilary Benn.
Ed Miliband in Swindon a Photojournalist’s View
Part of the reason why I like being a photojournalist is the press scrum. It is fun and funny. Pushing and shoving some of the time. Other times we all let each other take prime spot and change around.
Yesterday I was photographing Ed Miliband who was visiting Los Gatos in Old Town Swindon as part of the Election trail and to show support for Anne Snelgrove the local Labour candidate for Swindon South. Los Gatos was just heaving with customers and Labour supporters before the media got in there. It was heavily controlled by the Police and Labour party officials and so we had to be in before he arrived. Not only that, all the media had to be behind the bar!!!!! So we were all pretty much going to get the same shots. I was too late in grabbing a chair to stand on and at first all I got was the backs of all the rest of the media. (See photo). After that I just moved around a bit trying to get something different. I don’t think I managed to achieve it. I did manage to get Ed Miliband being interviewed by the Swindon Advertiser journalist. Only because the Labour official in charge thought I was with them so I didn’t tell him otherwise 🙂
My point in all of this is that news photojournalism is all just a matter of luck, being at the right place at the right time. Pushing and shoving and standing your ground at times. Being really nice and accommodating at others.
Fun though, either way.
Swindon Holocaust Memorial Service
Today saw the Swindon Holocaust Memorial Service take place. It was fitting that it was a grey overcast day (excellent for photography) for the short service held at the Cenotaph in Swindon. It was quite well attended by the general public and some of the local dignitaries including Councillor Teresa Page Mayor of Swindon, Angus MacPherson Police and Crime Commissioner for Swindon and Wiltshire was tucked away amongst the public and also Derique Montaut Labour Councillor, there were of course many more if you knew where to look.
It was a quite short service but it was good to see that Swindon held it again this year especially as it is 70 years today.
BBC Question Time in Swindon
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- David Dimbleby
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- Swindon BBC Question Time
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- Philip Hammond MP
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- Charles Kennedy
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- Liz Kendall MP
Was lucky to be allowed in to take photos during the warm up session of BBC Question Time which was being held in Swindon. I think the pictures speak for themselves. Panelist joining David Dimbleby are, Philip Hammond,Charles Kennedy,Liz Kendall,Jeanette Winterson and Roger Scruton.
Swindon demonstrates against government use of ATOS
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
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- Swindon ATOS Demo
There was a small demo outside of the Swindon Job Centre on the morning of the 19th Feb, against the government’s use of ATOS, the company commissioned to vet benefits applications of sick and disabled people signed off by their DR’s It was part of a nationwide protest.
The Swindon Photojournalist 