Diane Abbott has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington for 23 years. Now, Conservative candidate Darren Caplan thinks it’s time for a change.
“People have a clear choice between Diane Abbott, who has had the same policies for the last 22 years, and the chance of something new.”
Caplan was elected last March to take on Abbott at constituency level, and he is now eager for the election date to be announced. He says: “We’re expecting it to be called at the end of this month, or the beginning of April. I just want campaigning to start properly now.”
Currently working in public relations, Caplan, 37, now faces a difficult challenge in winning the Hackney North seat – Abbott was the first black woman member of parliament in Britain, and she is still one of Labour’s most charismatic members.
Local constituents have never elected a Tory MP. At the last general election, Abbott won over 10,000 more votes than her Conservative rival.
But Caplan thinks his policies are what Hackney needs to move forward. “My basic line is that Hackney is a great place and it could be even better.”
Not just a crowd pleaser
Caplan is adamant, however, not to simply appease local residents. He says: “I think parliamentary candidates should stand up for what they believe in…You shouldn’t just tell people what they want to hear.”
For Caplan, the main areas which need attention in Hackney are education, employment and crime.
While the borough’s high schools have been consistently high-achieving in recent years, the local primary schools are often at the bottom of national league tables.
To combat this, if elected, Caplan would promote old-fashioned values in schools: “It’s all about making sure pupils are disciplined and have a clear understanding of the head teachers’ authority.”
He also supports the idea of ‘Free Schools,’ an idea adopted by the Tories which is based on the Swedish system whereby power to run schools is taken from the State and given to the local community.
“They would be state-funded but would be organised by parents and local businesses.” Caplan believes the success of these new schools would help to inspire higher standards in neighbouring schools.
With high unemployment rates – there are 92 job applicants for every new job in Hackney, compared to the national average of ten applicants – Caplan believes the Conservative policy of cutting corporation tax for businesses, and cutting National Insurance contributions for start-ups in their first two years, would lead to more job opportunities for Hackney residents.
On crime, Caplan is characteristically conservative. “I think you do need more bobbies on the beat.” But he claims not to be party political when it comes to crime and says, “everyone is trying to do their best.”
The problem of gangs in Hackney must also be tackled through wider community involvement, Caplan claims, with community groups, police and schools and local councillors working together.
Caplan is also concerned about the lifecycle of crime: “We need better rehabilitation policies. A lot of people who are get involved in crime stay in crime. You have to break the link.”
He suggests a scheme whereby ex-offenders, now rehabilitated, partner up with those currently involved in crime – “Once they have served their punishment they have to be given support once they get out.”
Caplan seems passionate about parliamentary politics – “If all you’re doing as a constituency candidate is saying that you can do a better job than the councillors then that’s not enough,” – but whether or not he has the charisma and popular local standing to make up the 32% swing remains to be seen.
Darren’s perfect day in Hackney:
“I’d probably spend the morning walking around Stoke Newington and go to the farmers’ market there. In the afternoon I’d go to Lea Valley Canoe club, it’s really lovely there with all the parks. And in the evening I’d go to Stamford Hill and get a smoked salmon bagel.”
Describe Hackney in five words:
Diverse, vibrant, full of opportunity.
Interesting comments on rehabilitation – made before the latest developments in the Bulger case, I presume.