The first time I was trained in campaigning, I was taught that the issue I chose to campaign on must be "widely felt, deeply felt and winnable". The idea was that people would only become interested in the campaign if they felt a real personal connection to it ? which, I suspect, is why uncontroversial campaigns like saving libraries, forests and badgers are embraced by the public and media, and often lead to government U-turns.

© Guardian News & Media Ltd