Politics is more unpredictable than ever.
Being able to call on an experienced, objective and level-headed approach can help reset communications and campaigns.
van der Knight can help businesses and politicians identify problems and find positive ways forward.
Political Troubleshooting
Gareth Knight has been called upon many times to help unblock issues of a political nature. Gareth has often found that being able to stand back and look at a problem from a new perspective can show that issues that appear difficult are surmountable with some friendly analysis and advice. Gareth believes that crisis communications are best performed before any crisis takes place and that a rational and objective approach to a problem is nearly always the most effective way of moving ahead.
Case study 1: assessing if a candidate can win a seat and if they need additional support
Challenge
A political party was concerned that a campaign in one target and high‑profile constituency was drawing too many resources from neighbouring constituencies, to the overall detriment of the party in the region. They asked van der Knight to assess the situation, potentially with a view to withdrawing additional support.
Approach
van der Knight spent several days on the ground observing the campaign structure and the response on the doorstep. The work:
• assessed the campaign’s organisation and day‑to‑day activity
• evaluated voter response and local dynamics
• identified specific areas of concern that needed tightening
• produced recommendations to maximise the chances of success
• reported that an unlikely victory was actually a strong possibility and support should continue to be given
Outcome
The party implemented all recommended additional support. The constituency went on to become a significant victory when the election results came through
Case study 2: helping a candidate structure their life and schedule to maximise their impact
Challenge
A parliamentary candidate was concerned about being personally overwhelmed by the campaign. A major public debate was approaching, and the issues were threatening to derail the entire campaign, causing major problems between key volunteers and the wider party organisation.
Challenge
A political party was asked by a candidate to assess how they could deliver the optimum campaign with far fewer volunteers than required for the standard templated campaign.
Approach
van der Knight spent a day observing the candidate’s workload and identified the lack of daily structure and routine as the core issue. The work:
created a proper daily structure for the candidate
assigned key volunteers clear ownership of specific campaign tasks
supported the candidate in building personal time into their day
helped manage responses to complex issues ahead of the debate
Outcome
Within two days, the candidate’s confidence increased significantly. The new structure created a harmonious team environment, and both the candidate and volunteers acknowledged the change as a key factor in the campaign’s subsequent — and partly unexpected — success.
Case study 3: planning a campaign that maximises output with minimal voluntary support
Approach
van der Knight spent a day assessing the situation and recommended a higher‑risk but more suitable strategy. The plan:
stripped out lower‑impact activity
focused candidate and volunteer time on actions that would create the most noise
targeted pockets of key voters in specific areas
set clear, defined targets for each day
Outcome
Within days of implementing the plan, the candidate reported significantly increased volunteer support and higher engagement and awareness across social media. The candidate went on to win with a large swing in their favour.