{"id":1827,"date":"2009-03-17T11:31:48","date_gmt":"2009-03-17T11:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onlinefocus.org\/?p=1827"},"modified":"2009-03-17T11:35:18","modified_gmt":"2009-03-17T11:35:18","slug":"the-eastenders-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onlinefocus.org\/the-eastenders-election\/","title":{"rendered":"The EastEnders Election"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are a fan of EastEnders you’ll know that Peggy Mitchell is standing for the council there- as an independent. (Click here<\/a> for the lastest trailer).<\/p>\n

This has prompted Norfolk Lib Dem Nic Starling<\/a> to write a piece about the inaccuracies in how the show is covering this. For example, the Walford election is going to be on a Monday, yet all real-life elections are on a Thursday. Why have the scriptwriters got it wrong? Nic concludes:<\/p>\n

…. Perhaps though the most common gaffe in TV is the belief that a public meeting is still the centrepiece and deciding factor in any election campaign.<\/p>\n

Tonight’s episode of Eastenders featured a public meeting of candidates which was attended by all of 20 people yet Peggy’s performance was enough, in front of only a handful of people, to make people think that she was set to win ? Public meetings might have been decisive in the period up to the 1960’s, but I have yet to go to one that has made any difference to a campaign.<\/p>\n

And what of Walford East ? How big would the ward be ? 3000 houses ? More ? Yet no mention is made of canvassing or delivering leaflets. A leaflet was shown in one episode but it was like something from the 1950s and nothing like leaflets 90% of people get through there doors at election time. So it begs the question why one landlady in one pub would be so well known outside of Albert Square. Clearly the Eastenders producers think that local council wards are made up of 50 houses only.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Being a councillor in the real-life version of Walford is a much tougher job than in places like Rochford. And it’s certainly something special to represent rural places like, say, Paglesham or Barling. On a day like last Sunday, to be out delivering Focus leaflets in the March sunshine…. daffodils, birdsong, blues skies, green fields, horses, babies, home made jam for sale… perfect!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you are a fan of EastEnders you’ll know that Peggy Mitchell is standing for the council there- as an independent. (Click here for the lastest trailer). This has prompted Norfolk Lib Dem Nic Starling to write a piece about the inaccuracies in how the show is covering this. 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