Rochester & Strood by-election: Have your say

Rochester and Strood is top of the national headlines right now. The upcoming by-election, caused by the MP Mark Reckless switching to UKIP, has put the media into a frenzy.

So far it’s been all about the parties grabbing headlines and politicians jostling for position. It might feel like the circus has come to town. But what does it mean to people in Rochester and Strood?

Together, 38 Degrees members are putting ordinary people at the centre of the by-election. Today, 38 Degrees members in Rochester and Strood are taking part in a poll to decide they can do together.

Political parties go all-out during by-elections like this one. They’ll knock on every door, more than once. They’ll deliver a new leaflet everyday. It can become a confusing mess of point scoring.

Together, 38 Degrees members can demand answers on the issues we actually care about. Everything we do will show politicians our power – and push them to stand up for ordinary people in Rochester, Strood and the Hoo Peninsula.

There are lots of options on the table. We can sign-up thousands of our neighbours to vote – or set up an event to quiz the candidates. Whatever 38 Degrees members do, the important thing is that we decide together.

38 Degrees members have been a force in by-elections before. In Eastleigh last year, the whole town saw our billboards on how to register to vote. And it was standing room only at the 38 Degrees ‘quiz the candidates’ event.

This election is about people in Rochester and Strood electing their MP. Ordinary people’s voices shouldn’t be lost just because it’s big news elsewhere.

38 Degrees is independent of all political parties. But that doesn’t mean we just sit back and let the politicians get on with it. When there are important issues at stake, together we can be heard. So please help decide what we should do.