Ollie Middleton shares his experience of what it's like to be a candidate during the last few days on the campaign trail. 

It’s been over four years since my first experience as a candidate standing in a general election, at the ripe old age of 20. My most recent experience, however, was only just over six months ago, in what is likely to be the UK’s final European Elections. Despite the fact I’ve not been involved in this particular election campaign, in recent days, I’ve found myself thinking about those that are and the emotional roller-coaster that is the final few days as a candidate.   

We live in an age where politicians are rarely given credit for anything. Arguably, given the current levels of apathy and trust in our politics, this can be justified, but we should applaud all of those, irrespective of views or policy, who take the incredibly brave decision to put themselves forward for election. We demand high standards of those seeking to represent us and rightly so, but we should remember, on a human level, just how challenging it can be to stand as a candidate. Whether it’s having every inch of your life scrutinised, encounters with angry voters, countless appearances at hustings (I did 23 in total), the constant fatigue, or the realisation that the outcome of your local campaign will ultimately be dictated by factors beyond your control, like the content of your party’s manifesto or the performance of your leader in national debates.

Given the length of this campaign and the perception  thatthe country has never been so divided, the experience of candidates standing in the 2019 general election will undoubtedly be intense. Sadly, this has been evident in reports of candidates having experienced physical and verbal attacks while campaigning. It’s vital that, wherever you stand politically, we all join together and fight for the right for all candidates and volunteers to campaign peacefully, free from fear of abuse.

Unlike many of my friends and colleagues, I have not experienced standing in a target seat or, in other words, a seat I’m likely to win. Nonetheless, the final days of any campaign does strange things to you. A few conversations with some sympathetic voters and you convince yourself you’re heading for a landslide. But in seats where candidates have got a realistic chance of winning, these feelings are even more extreme. The margin for error really is so small (in 2017, for example, North East Fife was won by just two votes). You end up pinning a huge amount on every conversation, every encounter, convinced that one vote will be the difference between winning and losing the seat. A classic example is getting caught up in lengthy discussions with voters who, despite your best methods of charm, clearly have made up their minds. This is where having a good organiser or campaign manager, able to keep candidates grounded and focused on the bigger picture is so important.

In the weeks and days that follow the 2019 election, the focus of our media and the public will be firmly back on Westminster and Brexit , but we should spare a thought for all those physically and mentally drained candidates who put themselves forward for election. Win or lose, jubilation or heartbreak, these people who have chosen, rightly or wrongly, to put their lives on hold to stand up for their views and give voters a meaningful choice. This is our democracy at its best and these are the people that make it possible.