Vote Labour: Thursday 5th May 2011

Ken helps mobilise Labour Vote outside London

This evening I went to an "eve of poll" telephone canvass bank at the Labour Party headquarters in Victoria. This was hosted by Labour London Mayor Candidate, Ken Livingstone. 

This year there is no elections in London. The London Labour Party has twinned CLP's with target seats in Councils outside London.

The telephone bank on the ground floor was packed. I understand that the much bigger one upstairs was also full of Party members who had also volunteered to help out.
I was ringing voters in Kent. The response was very, very good. There seems to be an appetite out there for people to send the Tories and the Lib Dems a powerful message. Or "a good kicking" as one person I spoke to tonight put it. When I suggested to a voter that the indications are that it will be really close. She responded sharply by saying "What do you mean it will be close. We are going to win!"

I also spoke to a retired UNISON member who told me proudly that his Labour Link poster was in his front window.

Ken came around and thanked activists for their support (see college).  The star of the show was of course the lovely and very well behaved (guide?) dog who slept under the chair throughout (top left of college). 

Update: We were canvassing voters in Dover/Deal in Kent.  Labour increased its seats by 4 but the Tories still control the Council.  The Lib Dems were wiped out.  Two of the new Cllrs are the Mum and Dad of former Tower Hamlets Cllr, Clair Hawkins, who I met in 2006 when they were helping Clair canvass in Mile End and Globe Town ward. 

London asked to help give Cameron and Clegg a "savage" Council election beating

In London there are no local elections this year. UNISON Greater London have distributed the following list of 11 target Council's in areas surrounding London.  So, if you want to send a real message to Cameron and Clegg about what you think of their "savage" Cuts, their attempts to privatise our NHS and to destroy our welfare state. Then get out and mobilise the vote against Tory and Liberal Democrat Councillors in these target seats.

If these CONDEM Councils get completely smashed on May 5th then this will make the local Tory and Lib dem MP's think again about the Cuts. If the defeats are really deep and profound then think "rats and sinking ships" - a real election beating may even help result in this Coalition's well deserved early demise. Even if you don't usually support Labour you can see this makes political sense. So if you live in London and really hate what this government is doing and want to do something positive and practical to oppose it, then get yourself out there and help defeat them on May 5th.

5 MAY 2011 LOCAL ELECTIONS

TARGET SEATS OUTSIDE LONDON

"On 5 May local elections will be taking place outside London. UNISON's objective is to sustain our anti public sector cuts campaign by defeating Tory and Lib Dem councillors and returning Labour controlled Councils where we can. Eleven target Councils have been identified in surrounding areas where I would encourage activists and members to volunteer some time to help campaign to defeat the Lib Dem and Tory Councillors who currently hold those Councils.

The list of 11 target Councils is attached along with the contact details for the local campaign organisers. Please cascade this request for volunteers encouraging them to give up a few hours of their time to ensure that Labour is successful in these elections. 

Council area linked	Reg	Name	Phone	email
Bedford	East	Lou King	01234 272472	louisejacksonking@gmail.com
Brighton and Hove	South East	Paul Barlow	07966 260262	paulbarlow@me.com
dover	South East	Paul Harrington	07545 421412	paul_harrington@new.labour.org.uk
Gravesham	South East	Simon Wady	07843 344318	simon_wady@new.labour.org.uk
Harlow	East	Charlie Cochrane	01279 625870	charmal@ntlworld.com
Luton	East	Francis Steer	01582 730764	francis-steer@luton-labour.org.uk
Reading	South East	Ben Zielinski	07743 595426	benzielinski@gmail.com
Stevenage	East	Joseph Sherry	01279 625860	joe_sherry@new.labour.org.uk
Thanet	South East	Michelle Fenner	07766 452552	mhfenner@gmail.com
Thurrock	East	Richard Speight	07794 307840	rspeight@gmail.com
Watford	East	Steve Cox	07505 843553	steve.cox2@virgin.net

Picture basin of gravy

Fighting the Good Fight: Thurrock Council Elections May 2011

West Ham and East Ham Labour Party members out last weekend canvassing and helping out our Essex comrades in Stanford le Hope, Thurrock.

There are no elections this year in Greater London so the Regional Party has asked CLP's to help their nearest local Labour parties outside London.

There are regular trains to Thurrock from West Ham station.

Members were out there yesterday and today as well.

It will be great to help inflict "savage" defeats on Tory and Lib Dem Councillors in May.