Nice work if you can get it

A few weeks ago I blogged about the proliferation of outsourcing companies offering campaign services to Associations and MPs.  See HERE. As I wrote at the time, I don't blame these companies, they have seen a gap in the market and are exploiting it, which is what free enterprise is designed for.  Many of these companies are run by former CCHQ employees who know what they are doing. If Associations have lost the local skills to deliver campaign goals, it is hardly surprising they will turn elsewhere, even if they have to pay a premium. 

This morning I received an email from one such company - run by former CCHQ staffers. It was offering a package of telephone canvassing or telephone surveying. Here is a screen grab:

I know the guys who run this company, and I actually like them. But 200 contacts for £575. Really!  That's £2.87 each! An average ward has a legal spending limit of £750, so if any councillors are considering doing this as part of their election campaign, they will be spending 76% of their legal budget to phone 200 people (who you could visit personally over three evenings canvassing for 25p of shoe leather). 

If people are willing to pay for these services, good luck to them. However, if does demonstrate how fortunate we are in West Kent in that we have our own in-house phone bank, capable of making 500-800 calls in an evening, at a cost of £10 (yes, that's ten pounds not £575).