The People's Primary - the 'how-to-do-it' book!

Aim

People Power!The book of how we ran a successful primary + how to organise one yourselves to defeat Reform UK in the next General Election!

[The South Devon Primary's co-founders: Ben Long, Simon Oldridge and Anthea Simmons]

In the video above, journalist and campaigner George Monbiot explains why he got behind the project ahead of the July 2024 general election.

The book, told in a lively, accessible way as a graphic 'novel', tells the story of the South Devon Primary which successfully ended 100 years of Conservative MPs in the Totnes/South Devon constituency in July 2024. The authors show how this process could be rolled out in the next general election to unite progressive voters and prevent Reform UK gaining power.

The book is intended as an uplifting, inspirational read for anyone frustrated by a system that doesn’t represent them and that keeps handing power to a party most people don’t support. It’s for progressives tired of watching their votes go to waste, activists fighting for climate action and social justice, and community organizers looking for fresh strategies.

But it’s also for everyday people—working-class voters struggling under austerity, the disappearing middle class watching their security vanish, and those who’ve given up on voting because they feel it doesn’t change anything. If you’ve ever felt powerless in politics, this story proves that ordinary people can take control and make a difference.

[Our 'Led by Donkey's' style guerrilla projection on the walls of the Conservative Club in Totnes]

Beyond activists and policy wonks, this is for people who just want a fairer, more functional democracy. Maybe you’re worried about the far right gaining ground, or just fed up with the same old cycle of false promises and let-downs. If you care about fairness, representation, and shaking up a rigged system, this book will speak to you. It’s proof that when communities get smart and work together, they can beat the odds – and reclaim the power that's theirs by right in a democracy.

[Primary town hall meeting attendees give their reactions to the Primary process]

Why we need the money: 

We need to pay professional designer and illustrator, Jack Burley, to work full time to complete the artwork for the book, including the cover design etc. He will also produce an e-book version, as well as a print-ready file for a future paperback edition, of which we would hope to fund an initial print run via a stretch goal. 

The stretch goal would also enable us to fund publicity for the book and create demand for the physical version, in addition to e-book sales.

We have gone down this 'DIY' route as this a) chimes with our grassroots ethos and b) because the conventional publishers we approached are very cautious in the current economic environment, despite really loving the project's message, content and aesthetic.

Your contribution isn’t just funding a book — it’s funding a movement to take democracy back from the powerful and put it in the hands of the people.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made