The huddle: Sunday night sideways

Part of an occasional series, usually around election time, where Andy Smith shares a sideways look at the world of politics in Telford. Dragged out because a huddle happened in Telford this week. Here’s your behind the scenes…

My five minutes with the chancellor in Woodside

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for Homes, Steve Reed, along with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, arrived in Telford on Thursday to announce the new Pride in Place Initiative. This plan pledges £20 million each to over 300 areas across the country. I was honoured to get an invite to participate in the media huddle at the Park Lane Centre in Woodside.

It’s not something I’ve done often. I did interview Tom Watson once, when he was a minister, campaigning in Telford for the Remain camp.

Perhaps I was never asked again because they blamed me for that decisive and divisive 2%.

Firstly, I had to work out what a media huddle actually was. I had a broad grasp, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to be a spectator, or able to participate, and in what capacity.

I had visions of a room with nationals, regionals and TV crews all vying for angles and access. This was the chancellor of the exchequer a month before the Budget, after all.

Would I go? I looked back at the email and realised I had already missed the deadline by two hours. I checked when the email was sent and realised I only had 90 minutes to respond. Things move fast at the treasury.

I responded positively and crossed my fingers. I had a response an hour later that evening around 8:30pm with the full details. All embargoed until 6pm on the day of the visit.

I won’t reveal any of the security details but, safe to say, it worked well. It doesn’t seem like many residents were aware of the visit, although some may have wished to line the route, and not in a welcoming way.

The day started with a WhatsApp from my handler at the treasury at 5am. I wondered if she had slept. I’d always imagined working in the higher echelons of government was a non-stop kind of gig.

I pulled up to the Park Lane Centre in Woodside almost an hour early. Still no parking. I managed to find a space around the corner, before grabbing my rucksack with camera kit, mics and notepad (just for show), making my way past the police and into the epicentre.

It was a hive of activity and expectation. The chancellor had yet to arrive and some friendly faces welcomed me and gave me a heads up as to what was going to happen.

I saw friendly and familiar faces. One was an ex-Telford & Wrekin Council employee who was now Head of Social Media for the Homes & Communities department. I love to see people from Telford do well for themselves, and Emily has certainly done that.

The treasury team were gracious and generous in every way. Even to the tune of buying a round of tea (mine with oat milk, if you are asking) for those gathered in the café area.

Charlotte from BBC Shropshire arrived, and LBC were already there. The details for the media huddle were starting to be solidified from what seemed a relatively fluid state.

It was at this point I discovered that there were just five of us in the media huddle. No standing at the back for me. I was getting a question. Maybe two.

I had prepared my questions in advance, just in case. Not in a formal way, but I had them set in my head. This is Telford Live, we’re in Woodside, Telford, and my question to the housing secretary was going to be about housing.

Rachel Reeves entered the building. I’m going to say she wafted past, and up the stairs with an entourage. I would imagine this is normal. I don’t move in these circles.

Not-so-Private Eye

We moved upstairs as the huddle time approached. Upstairs at the Park Lane Centre, it was almost business as usual. The media stood around as visitors to the Diabetic Eye Clinic and dentist came along for their appointments.

Blue-suited Rachel Reeves shook hands with the dentist and made some small talk. The chancellor and housing secretary progressed into the ‘green’ room to catch a breath and take a drink.

I could imagine the guy going into his eye clinic and telling medical staff he’d just seen the chancellor in the waiting room and being asked if he had experienced hallucinations before.

A few minutes passed and we were ushered into the room for our huddle.

We were introduced to the chancellor and secretary of state before taking our seats.

It was literally a huddle. Five seats in a semi-circle, an arm’s length from the chancellor and secretary seated in two chairs facing us.

My turn for questions came round, and you can read more about this here… New powers to target dodgy landlords

And that was it, my fifteen minutes with the famous was done, and off I went. Regardless of your political leanings, getting the chance to meet and ask the chancellor of the exchequer and a housing secretary a question is something not many people get to do.

With every politician I have met, there is someone trying to make other people’s lives a bit better. Do they get everything right? No, who does. Do they make errors of judgement? Yes, we all do.

The difference with politicians is that they are always in the spotlight. Every decision, photo and comment is subject to public scrutiny and it must be draining.

‘£20m for Woodside, it’s not enough,’ ‘Where is the money coming from?’ and ‘What about the other estates?’ are valid questions, but nonetheless, it must be a daily battle for those elected. Topped off by having to win a popularity contest in order to keep your job.

The next day I was back to vox-popping visitors at Southwater in my lunch hour for a forthcoming project, the same place I interviewed Tom Watson all those years ago.