Another evening "on the knocker" in Plaistow South

 

This evening I was the "board runner" again (not with a clip board anymore but a Labour Party mobile phone app) with a group of activists led by our by election candidate, Ash. 

We did both sides of a very long street in the ward. It was threatening to rain but there was only a few occasional drops.  I read out the briefing to all the teams at the beginning and Ash thanked everyone for giving up their time to support him. There was then the inevitable photo! 

Another positive canvass. Some negativity but that is democracy for you. It was good to be involved with lots of enthusiastic activists from all ages, experience and backgrounds, coming together to fight the good fight.

By election is Thursday 18 September. Check out here if you can join us. https://events.labour.org.uk/

If you have not canvassed before do not worry, since your will be paired with an experienced activist until you feel comfortable to knock on a door by yourself.  

Saturday Labour doorstep in Plaistow South By election

 

Picture college from yesterday's doorstep in the Plaistow South By Election campaign with our candidate Ash and local party activists. 

There was 3 teams out and the result was pretty positive. On one occasion I had some robust conversations with two residents, who had been totally taken in by Reform propaganda and hopefully they will reflect on our exchange. However, we have to deal nationally and locally with the underlying economic causes that such populist extremist parties thrive upon. 

Overhaul it went well and Ash is excellent at both listening and engaging with residents. A rare gift for someone standing for political office! 

Some beautiful gardens in the ward. 

Labour teams about to set off in Plaistow South

 

Great picture from last night as Labour activists set off to campaign in Plaistow South with our By Election candidate, Asheen Singh (date of by election Thursday 18 September). I was running the "door step" app in a team with Ash and long standing Labour supporter (and former Councillor) John Saunders (on right of photo). It was good to see him, out and about, supporting Labour despite recent health concerns. 

Today there is a by election in Camden - check out https://events.labour.org.uk/ if you can help out

"On the Knocker" at Plaistow South

 

Tonight I met up again with our by election candidate Asheem and other activists including the Newham Labour Mayor Candidate 2026, Forhad Hussain.

The canvass went well and although I was mostly helping to "run the board" (directing activists to call on particularly addresses and recording responses and case work) on the doors I actually knocked upon and spoke to people, the reaction was pretty good. 

Some disappointment at some of the decisions of the Labour Government but a recognition of the mess that the previous Government had left the country in and that Labour should be judged on what it achieves in a full term and not just one year. 

Plaistow South By Election

 

I was out this evening to support our Labour candidate, Asheem Singh in the Plaistow South By Election. The by election has come about due to the sad death of Cllr Neil Wilson earlier this month. I had know Neil for many years and he was a hard working Councillor and Cabinet member for Health. He and I also shared similar views on the importance of social economic class in Labour politics. 

The by election is on September 18th. The candidate Ash is excellent "on the doorstep" with residents and will make a great Councillor.  He has been a keen local campaigner and activist.  

West Hammers on tour: Wellingborough By election 15 Feb 24

This morning four of us (Alan, Ash, Me and Varghese - all of whom live in the West Ham Parliamentary constituency) drove down to Wellingborough to support the Labour Candidate, Gen Kitchen (former Newham Councillor) in this important by election. 

It took under 2 hours to get there and we had been directed to a community centre which was a campaign hub. It was thankfully, very well organised and we were speedily booked in, given leaflets and shown a video by Gen and the Labour Party GS, David Evans, on local issues and campaigning techniques.  There was also sandwiches and drinks available. 

There was no hanging about and we were soon allocated a Labour Party "board runner" to take us "on the knocker" and remind voters that this is election day and to get out the Labour vote. 

We bumped into Rita (another West Hammer) who was campaigning with "Sikhs 4 Labour". 

Kizzy led us on our first canvass session. She is a Labour Party media organiser and this was the first time she had led a canvass team and she did a great job. We went to the Finedon ward which comprised predominantly of traditional terraced houses, but there was many blocks of flats which were converted from shoe wear factories, which used to be a major employer in the area. 

The canvassing went well but we were approached by a shop workers who asked us if she was able to vote since she had no photo ID. She was disabled and had no passport or driving licence. Sadly she was not able to vote but we did suggest that she apply for a postal vote for next election. She was angry about being deprived of her right to vote and had wanted to support Gen. 

Another elderly voter told us that she had gone to the polling station but got turned away since she had forgotten to bring her photo ID with her. She said she would go back but she was clearly frail and not well. I suspect that she too will be deprived of her vote. 

We only saw one canvasser for any of the opposition parties (it may have been the Tory candidate but we were not sure). There was in the distance a mobile loudspeaker which I believe was ranting for a far right party but could not make out what they were saying.  

One person stopped me and asked me about Gen and was very supportive of Labour but said he was worried because he had been told that Keir Starmer had been the "lawyer" for the sex abuser, Jimmy Saville. I assured him that this is totally untrue and it is a shame that opposition parties are spreading such lies and misinformation. He seemed content with this. 

We stopped for coffee and cake at a local shop then went out again this time with Rob as our "Board Runner".  Good to meet up again at the community centre, with the Leader of Greenwich Council, Anthony Okereke. 

This 2nd session was now later in the day and we found more people at home after work and it became clear that many residents had either voted already or were about to vote and they were well motivated and keen to vote for Labour. 

One lady however, told me that she had "forgotten" who she and her partner had voted for that morning. Hmmnn... I suspect she not vote for us. 

Alan drove us there and back. According to Google fit I walked 20,343 steps today (8.73 miles). 

Result is due around 4am tomorrow morning. Fingers and toes crossed for Gen and her team. Will update tomorrow. 

Good luck to Damien Egan in the Kingswood byelection. Another great candidate. 

Update: Great news @Gvkitchen & @damienegan both elected! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68313421

Labour Canvass - Maud Gardens then Olympic Park (a plaque to the Pentonville Five?)

 

This morning I went on a Labour canvass in my ward, West Ham with my fellow Councillor John Whitworth and local activist Asheem Singh. 

We went to Maud Gardens which is a small low rise housing estate. We picked up a lot of case work and issues. Residents were pleased to see us but the estate definitely needs a "refresh". 

I will see where it is on the list for future planned maintenance programme. I was invited in by one resident who lives in a one bed flat, which has damp problems but also he and his wife has to share the only bedroom with his 10 year old autistic child, who was a lovely boy but obviously his housing situation is completely inadequate. 

I will raise a Council members enquiry into what we can do, however, I really wish the Prime Minister or Chancellor of the Exchequer was with me when I make these visits, so they can see for themselves what real poverty and housing deprivation means to vulnerable families

By a complete contrast I went this afternoon with West Ham MP, Lyn Brown, to a brand new development next to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, called Chobham Manor. Where there is new private and social housing which appears to be high quality and residents are generally very satisfied (despite concerns over lack of domestic bins and that google does not know they exist). 

I believe this development is actually the site of an important Newham and Labour movement historical event. In 1972 five Dock workers were imprisoned for "unlawfully" picketing at a cold storage facility which I believe was located at or near this development. This resulted in an "unofficial" national strike across the UK which ended up with the "Pentonville Five" being released. This was a famous victory at the time against trade union oppression. Vic Turner (see centre picture of him being realised from prison) was one of the Pentonville Five and he later went on to be a Newham Councillor and Civic Mayor. 

Lyn had a long conversion during the canvass with a resident who was originally from Ukraine. Our hearts go out to him, his family and friends and the people of Ukraine who are being murdered and suffering in Putin's war of aggression against them. 

West Ham Ward doorstep 15.1.22 (Yes, they all hate Boris)

This afternoon we were out "on the knocker" with our local MP Lyn Brown (and Cara - the Labour attack dog). 

We had 98 contacts, who were not only overwhelmingly Labour but I can honestly report that I have never heard so much anti-tory comments in a canvass (over the abuse of Covid rules by Downing Street staff) in any previous  doorstep. 

Residents were genuinely angry and one was demanding that Lyn as his MP should sack Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. I had to point out that this was no doubt her wish but she could not do this if the majority of  MPs in Parliament (Tories) did not support her and her Labour colleagues.

I do not underestimate Boris for a minute, and he will not go until he is pushed but I think there is a good chance he will be toast. This doesn't mean that anyone else who follows him will be any better but it is hard to think they could be worse. 

There again I could be somewhat naïve...