This morning West Ham Labour Party activists decided to ignore the awful weather forecasts and turn up for one of our regular CLP “On the Knocker” street canvasses.Today we were in West Beckton which is part of Custom House Ward. I think that everyone was pleased with the good news about Ipsos MORI survey for the Observer poll (remember it’s the economy stupid that people will vote upon next May – we have the best policies and the Tories do not – the penny will eventually drop).
The picture left to right is of Alan Taylor, Cllr Conor McAuley, Alan Griffith (UNISON Labour Link branch officer), Cllr Patricia Holland, Dr Joe Ukemenam (UNISON Chair of the Voluntary Organisation branch) shows the calm before (literally) the storm.
Our MP Lyn Brown arrived shortly afterwards to help out. About 45 minutes after we started it simply started to pour and pour down. I think we got the sympathy vote from residents. However, the rain showed no sign of stopping and our canvass sheets were turning into pulp. We waited for a while before deciding that “rain stopped play”. Some of us then went off to do a bit of planning (and maybe just a tiny little bit of gossiping) over a coffee.
I had not canvassed this area before and before the washout was pleased to be in the team with local Councillor Patricia Holland. Pat has been a Party activist in the area for many years. She could remember the battles to get the local King George V Park and recreation area revitalised in 1977. She pointed out where there use to be a large London dock workers social and sports facility. This area includes the lovely Newham City Farm which we also walked past.
Before we were washed out the canvass seemed to go ok. I knocked on one door and the man who opened the door declared that he had never voted in his life (he was roughly my age – 29 ish and just a bit. I've had a hard life). All politicians he declared “say one thing and then do another”. However he then insisted on shaking my hand saying he was really pleased that we had taken the time to knock on his door to speak to him (so there is hope yet).
The rain however reinforces my view that political campaigning is a summer sport.
12 comments:
Alan Taylor!!! Is he still about?
The last time I saw him was in The Millers back in 2005 and he told me ‘You Tories, we won’t be backing you around here. We remember Thatcher.’
I courteously reminded him ‘Of course you do Alan, you stood as a Conservative council candidate when she was premier many many times.’
if true so what?
we all use to believe in father christmas.
politics is suppose to be all about the art of persuasion.
we want to persuade people to support us.
Now now Tory Toff Basher, you are being very discriminate only bashing Tory Toffs.
Why don't you try a few Labour and LibDem ones too . . .
Why bring Father Christmas into it? Many of us once believed in that Fettes and Oxbridge Toff St Tony.
You know the one that led us to war in Afghanistan and Iraq on a whim, didn't quite become the Supreme Commander of Europe and still has the cheek to set up a Faith Foundation?
Croquet anyone?????
http://www.provokateur.com/news/wp-content/photos/CameronEton2_468x420.jpg
Tory Shadow Front Bench
Of course you can always level up with that working class Labour hero John Prescott - oh yes, he then said he was middle class.
I mean Kingston upon Hull Towers, with those mock turrets are quite something for a non-toff Toff.
But then hey, when you swan around in the corridors with Lord Mandelson, the pro-fox hunting Baroness Malieau QC, Tory defectors with butlers Shaun Woodward and millionaries like Fiona McTaggart and Geoffrey Robinson then what the hell.
Double the income tax on the poor and cut disabled benefits, show yourselves like true men.
How is Dorneywood nowadays??? Croquet anyone????????
Thanks tory toff basher, does that mean that when anyone points out that I crossed the floor on the council to the Conservatives I can say "so what?"?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/05/23/duck-house-tory-sir-peter-vigger-s-1million-french-chateau-115875-21383888/
yes mike afterall noone has ever called you a tory toff?
are you coming home to labour?
prodigal son and all that.
@ tory toff basher:
"are you coming home to labour? prodigal son and all that." - Ha ha ha... only if I get endorsements from Wales, Baikie, and Ian Corbett.
Oh, and John Gray of course!
John, it seems the only time you show up in the area is when the London City Airport is not running flights (i.e. Saturday after 1pm and before 12.30 Sunday morning). Again, no idea how long this restriction on the airport's opening hours will remain. The Councillors have so far failed to protect the residents from the airport.
Why don't you show up on weekdays evenings during peak flights. I doubt you would be able to have any door step conversation with all the aircraft noise in the background.
Perhaps, then you will be able to have empathy for residents have to live with the misery of every day aircraft noise. Also, your blog makes no mention of issues that concern West Beckton residents?
Also, Robin Wales at a recent question time told Beckton residents that it was residents fault for moving to near the airport and clame that airport was there well before Beckton was built (again another bit of RW spin), since Custom House and Silvertown already existed for generations (dockers community) and many houses in Beckton pre-date the airport. I have not idea why they built houses in Beckton, if they want to keep backing airport expansion!
Hi airport anon
I have campaigned extensively in the past (Royal Docks by-election) when the airport is open as you well know. I have also pointed out that the issue very rarely comes up on the doorstep or the telecanvass. The airport is an important issue to some residents but the vast overwhelming majority express concerns with local issues such as crime, asb and council services. While nationally I have found they are now most concerned with jobs and unemployment.
You can hear a Beckton couple give a talk about London City Airport at City Hall.
Just follow the link from Fight the Flights (FTF) blog.
http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com/2009/11/real-effects-of-london-city-airport-on.html
Do you know Newham Council is being taken to Court by
Fight the Flights?.
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