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I love canvassing, getting out on the streets and meeting people. The reality TV show feeling of raising you hand and not knowing what is on the other side of the door. Friend or foe, will I know the answer? This election is so refreshing, everyone has an opinion on Boris and there is a real sense of political engagment. I hope that this will be a turning point, encouraging the cynics back into heart felt and even rough political debate. There are so many things that we as the Conservatives need to change but we can only be empowered by the electorate. I had a great chat to a lady in North London. We talked about schools, children, discipline just mummy stuff. As I went to go she said "I have really enjoyed talking to you. These politicans, you dont really feel that they mean it, but you do." It made my week. So am I being naive or do you all sense a change of mood.
Secretly, I too enjoy canvassing, but I have a problem when I'm out with others, typically someone else on the other side of the road.
I am very well known around these parts, and inevitably I shall get caught on one particular doorstep by one or another of my invaluable "eyes and ears" who report things to me. Invariably, I'll encounter at least one of these during any canvassing session, and my colleague will end up doing the rest of the road and finding me still there.
Now, I have had to get away from those who deliberately keep me talking in order to disrupt our activity (a common LibDem ploy, for example) but I won't deny my useful contacts their opportunity to catch up with a range of issues 'live' when I arrive on their doorstep. It does make it a bit difficult for my colleague(s) sometimes, but it still seems to be the right way to act.
When helping out in other areas, this isn't so much of an issue, though I have been one of the better-known councillors in the Medway area as a whole for a few years, so still get recognised and quizzed even in wards in Strood, Watling (Gillingham) or -- thinking back to 2003 -- Chatham Central, of all places.
We all encounter real people in our door-to-door travels, and your anecdote is the kind of thing I have experienced many, many times (though not as a mummy!) Yes, they then know who one truly is -- or as close as anyone can reasonably expect to get to know in that scenario. It is very 'human', somehow...
For those who have been following the national news in recent weeks, I am now too 'hot' to go canvassing anywhere for the duration(!) That will pass, of course, but for now I cannot even help in out-of-area campaigns such as the London Mayoralty and Assembly election campaign.
Thinking of the London Mayor (but we mustn't forget that the Assembly is also holding its rather peculiar constituency-plus-top-up elections as well), which I have been following for a long time -- especially Andrew Gilligan's revelations concerning Ken Leavingsoon (as he has been nicknamed) -- I have been very strongly aware that it has always been a two-horse race between the personalities of Ken and Boris, with others getting hardly a look-in beyond the perfunctory interviews and TV debates.
The odd voting system for the Mayor (i.e. first and second preferences) is bound to be misunderstood by the majority of electors -- as is the significance of the two types of Assembly seats, and how voting works there -- so the resulting votes stand a very strong chance of being significantly out of kilter with what the electorate-at-large broadly intended and wanted. This is always the problem with complex multi-stage electoral methodologies.
In the London Mayoralty case, it has long been recognised by many commentators that it will be second preferences that decide the outcome, as realistically none of the candidates is likely to acquire 50% of the first preference votes. The indications are still fairly strong for Boris, but it is nowhere near as clear-cut as the voters of London appear to wish for, which would be a clear Boris win. They know -- just as I, who was born near Wimbledon and lived and worked the majority of my life in London also know -- that Boris is the only chance to make a real and positive difference in our Capital. He won't do it perfectly, and it won't be plain sailing, but it is the only possible way forward.
The people of London, by and large, realise this fully, so I do hope most fervently that they are afforded that prospect after 1st May.
I know -- good, isn't it? Wish I'd thought of it myself.
It has been interesting to see that there have been so many TV encounters between the three main mayoral candidates -- Paxman, Neil, and today Sopel. I don't recall so many of these during the 2000 and 2004 London Mayoral campaigns, but perhaps I missed something (it's possible).
However, it is well known that, of the three, Leavingsoon performs best in this kind of set-up (especially if he is allowed more time to speak than the others, as happened today for example), so it is hardly surprising that the BBC has concentrated on this format, in order to favour their preferred candidate (viz. Red Ken, of course).
I don't think it's going to work, but the Beeb will be desperate to keep 'their man' in power, so must have felt they had to at least try to swing things, even if just a little.
I so agree with you about the complexity of the voting system and it would be disasterous to lose on the second preferance. Time will tell. It has been an interesting campaign in so many ways with solid Conservative votes needing to be reassured that Boris really is up to it and so many of our more disadvantaged citizens saying anyone but Ken. But that I suppose is the very nature of politics.
I do particulary like the way that we have engaged the troops in a pan London way. I support Tooting but I have been sent to Westminster North to help there. It is very interesting to compare associations, to gain understanding of different ways of doing things and as always meeting yet more interesting people. I did laugh as I walked into a very plush property in Maida Vale and said that it was much posher than Tooting. I have canvassed in some very challenging places and some very privaledged ones and dare I say it you generally get a more respectful reception in the tough bits! At the end of the day I always say that where ever you knock on those doors that what the voter cares about is so often the same, crime, education, health and yes the big one immigration.
I do sense a weariness and readiness for change so whatever the outcome with the mayor we have put in good work getting out there and showing people that a modern Conservative is someone that they can relate to. It will be fascinating to see the turnout. It was so low in Conservative areas the last time.
Absolutely with you both on the voting system; elderly family members have been telephoning me to help them with their ballot papers - it is so confusing for people who have been brought up with first past the post system to understand how the system works.
I feel quite sad that I've been unable to help with London elections, being so busy with my other responsibilities. Other constituency matters haven’t helped me free up the time either; I certainly wasn’t expecting a By-election.
Whatever people may think about Boris he's brought some colour back into politics, and people like the naivety in the man and his self effacing way. Some colleagues down here were rather cross about his airport remarks, but hey, he was saying what he thought was right for London! We're big enough to fight our own battles down here, which was why we had such success fighting off Cliffe Airport and saving Rochester Airport. That's the problem now days; freedom of speech is frowned upon, personally I love to be able to discuss view-points; it’s healthy!
Like you Melanie I have canvassed in a variety of areas of varying affluence; what I've learnt is that there are none so surprising as folk and over the years, I've lad lots of surprises!
We are in the throws of a by election here, so I have been unable to get up to support Boris, but like you I love doorstep canvassing, people are so interesting. I know we have some people helping London though. Here in Medway, there are a lot of angry people out there who feel they were duped by Labours promises - they certainly have no love for the PM Gordon Brown; not much appetite for Liberals either! Both Parties are resorting to Lies and/or inuendo and people were handing their leaflets back. Good Luck for London Melanie.
Ah! Well put, Jane. If you've seen the stuff being put about in my (okay, my former!) ward by Labour and the LibDems, you'll have noticed the same dishonesty there as elsewhere from those two parties. I smile whenever I receive one of these (and some are forwarded to me by one or another of my 'eyes and ears' around the ward, as they don't deliver everything to my address) as my people here won't be taken in, on the whole. All these idiots are doing is shooting themselves in the foot. It's waht I have called the 'Horsted Lesson' that they need to learn if they are ever to have any hope of success here.
I always scan these things in -- whether it is a LibDem 'Focus-pocus' or a Labour 'Ruse' -- and send it to myt (former) ward colleagues and our candidate, with the truth behind all the ward-based stories. Anything regarding a topic beyond the ward they can get from the relevant Portfolio Holder, chapter and verse.
They don't really need it, as our reputation here is so nstrong, but it's nice to be able to 'turn the knife' on one's dishonest opponents, just for good measure...
I absolutley agree about the Liberals. Give me a Socialist any day! A Liberal in Cornwall will not beleive in the same things as a Liberal in Scotland and my goodness do they love to cause mischief at a local level. What ever a local council does that is not there own, they will either claim success or twist with their own little mistruths, undermining everyone in a posionous and insidious way. I hope that their success in 2005 was voters who could not quite bring themselves to vote for us and that by 2010 that they will see that there is really no alternative.
I really concur with your view that you meet interesting people on the doorstep. I have learnt so much there, not only in policitical understanding but also in a personal way. Knocking on those doors has taught me humility. I have met too many people who have very hard lives and others who give so much is sometimes very small ways. I have become very tolerant of fraility and intolerant of selfishness in all its forms.
I am glad to hear that you feel a positive mood on the streets. It is like a market place and you do sense pretty quickly the way that the wind is blowing.
I have 8th May in my diary so look forward to hitting the streets with you all.
The latest news on the Mayoral situation suggests that the pundits are converging on the opinions with passing time -- the Politics Home graph of this is interesting. One technique I notice the BBC in particular doing is this repetitive "three main contenders and a Beeboid" -- Paxman, Neil (who is a lot better than most in the BBC), Sopel -- presumably because they know that Ken is well suited to this kind of setting and Boris isn't. Why else keep using the same formula, and also excluding all th other candidates?
Anyway, the mood is far change, and Boris is the man for that. He will do a good job, as it happens, and he will put good people in place to ensure there is a strong team running London (or the Mayor-run stuff, that is!)
Meanwhile, I look forward to having you, Melanie, come to my 'patch' -- it's an interesting and varied place! I don't know whether we shall meet on that day, though I expect so, probably at the Committee Room (wherever that is going to be).
Firstly I have really enjoyed debating the issues with you and Jane. I agree with you both that debate is a healthy thing and I certainly believe that within our Conservative beliefs that there is room for some lively discussion. Maybe that is why I like the doorstep, in a way it is a private discussion which clarifies your beliefs and one that helps you to learn how to articulate those views in a way that can be understand by many rather than a few.
Although the activists are getting tired and here I really take my hat off to Boris who has worked tirelessly for months and months, there is a real buzz. Last week I did 5, 2 hour canvas sessions and I felt a more positive mood on the doorstep. The press, egged on by Ken, have beaten home the Buffoon line over and over again but they may have overplayed their hand. We have an electorate who in the main know their own mind.
Whatever happens on Thursday, we as activists all know that we have worked really hard. We have laid down a solid structure of growing support. Our organisation is growing and taking on an increasing effective and professional approach to the reality of modern politics. It will have a positive effect whatever the outcome.
Well we did it! I have learnt how very important mutaul aid is. I was taken away from Wandsworth but it was for good purpose and had a positive outcome. I also see that the vlaue mutual aide that you all gave maidstone also bore fruit.
As I listened to Boris's acceptance speech, with its generous and touching senitments, I knew that the hard worth was worth it and that we had picked a really decent man with the energy and ability to lead London to a new start.
Looking forward to seeing you all this week for your bye election.
...Which you did, and it was good to see you here at "Chateau John" when you popped in as promised. The result was everything I had wanted, and sent a very firm message to the other two main parties who had fielded candidates, and that lesson was that they can't win in this ward. The gap was greater than ever, and Labour were kicked back almost down to the level of the LibDems, vote-wise. Our Trevor got more than twice as many votes as either of them, and this with a higher turnout than ever before in this ward. It was a definitive result, and you helped bring that about, for which we here are all very grateful.
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