Whatever happened to the nearly men?

LESS than three months after the general election which saw Greg Clark increase his majority in Tunbridge Wells by over a third to 55.9 per cent, we asked Labour Party candidate Gary Heather and Liberal Democrat David Hallas about their battlefield memories and how it feels to return to civilian life.

“I won’t say I was demoralised by losing, because I always knew I wasn’t going to win,” said Mr Heather, who saw the national swing away from his party reflected in a slump to just 5,448 votes, more than a third fewer than in 2005.

“But on the night, it really brings it home to you when you see all those ballot papers for Greg Clark.”

Teacher David Hallas, 29, who pushed the Liberal Democrat share to 12,726 votes in a campaign dominated by the popularity of leader Nick Clegg, said: “The campaign was hard, but I enjoyed it and the Lib Dems got a great reception on the doorsteps.”

He added: “One of my strong memories is standing on stage with Rory Bremner when his Election Battle Bus Tour came to Tunbridge Wells – I really enjoyed that.”

For Mr Heather, 56, a lifelong union man who sits on the national executive committee for the Communication Workers’ Union, life back home in Islington is still dominated by party and union business.

He said: “I did a lot of door-knocking – I took annual leave for part of the campaign – and I think my campaigning in Tunbridge Wells made a difference in highlighting social injustice.

“I really enjoyed the hustings, too and, to be honest, it was fairly easy compared to my usual trade union meetings dealing with lots of people disgruntled about pay and conditions.

“My father died during the campaign, which was difficult, but I’d be happy to stand again next time.

“I still read the Courier and stay in close touch with local party members.”

Meanwhile, Mr Hallas, busy during the hectic last days of term at Amherst School in Riverhead, recalled his “first relaxing weekend in months” following a cash-strapped election campaign that had to be organised around his day job.

“It becomes a very big part of your life. I was working 16-hour days to get everything done, as I had to campaign in the evenings.

“I’m not a career politician, I stood because I thought it was right, and if I feel the same in five years’ time I might stand again.”