A West Ham Labour doorstep

 

Picture collage of today's doorstep with my West Ham ward Councillor colleague John Whitworth and our super local activist, Varghese. It did not start well since the Labour Party canvass software (contact creator) was not working and we could not download information on who to call at. 

So we did an old fashioned doorstep and knocked on every door in the area. After a rather large number of elections this year it was pleasant, not to be just identifying supporters and asking for votes, but speaking to residents about any problems or issues they may have with the Council, life or the new Labour Government  (as it turned out). 

At one home I picked up a housing repair chase by a Council tenant, who was also trying to console her 2 young, very upset, grandchildren, whose goldfish had just died.  The children asked me if I was able to help their goldfish but I had so say to them that I could not but I was sure they had given the fish a wonderful life.

I later had a lovely time with a very friendly English short hair house cat (see collage). 

I had complaints about the Newham Council telephone contact centre, not answering up calls in a timely manner and I will be raising this issue with management. Other complaints about fly tipping, weeds in communal areas and unkept gardens.  

I did also get some ear bashing about the ending of winter fuel grants for all pensioners, including two residents who were about to lose the benefit. But they were not hostile and understood what a dreadful financial hole the new government was in. One of them was a UNISON member in schools and we had a chat about the forthcoming strike ballot on pay (if your union says vote to reject the pay offer - so vote to reject and in favour of action)

At the end of the canvass, I called on another pensioner, who described himself as "a retired trade union Labour man", who was a very strong supporter of the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and gave a very detailed account of why the Tory mismanagement of our economy in the past had made very difficult decisions inevitable. 

It was good to see the Newham council new build project opposite the estate. 

I will be contacting Dominos Pizza about their canvassers just throwing leaflets on the floor of blocks. We saw this in 3 different housing blocks and I will be asking Council officers if we can prosecute this shameful litter bug.