Game on for General Election on December 12 - it is going to be difficult but not impossible for Labour to win

The phoney war finally seems to be over and the House of Commons voted for a General election tonight on December 12. It has to go to the House of Lords but it appears to be "game on" for a General Election on that day.

As you can see from the BBC poll checker above, we appear to be well behind the Tories (36% to 24%) but politics is so fractured at this moment in our history no one really knows what will happen. Note this report from the BBC during the 2017 election.

"Polls at the beginning of the 2017 election campaign pointed towards an overwhelming Conservative victory. They were consistently hitting around 45% of the vote - sometimes even higher - with Labour down at around 25%".

The Tories in 2017 ended on 42.4% and Labour at 40%. Never forget we still lost but going from 25% to 40% shows we can change the hearts and minds of voters. Of course due to the UK "first past the post" electoral system, the share of the vote is not always the decider.

However, a good campaign and another excellent manifesto could get us over the line and we could win. But we are going to have to work very hard and show far more discipline than we have recently.

Today we had an election planning meeting for West Ham CLP. We have a plan to re-elect our excellent MP Lyn Brown. I am the Parliamentary Agent for this election (my 4th time as Lyn's agent)

I understand that all triggers have now been suspended and existing MPs (not subject to discipline processes) will be automatically endorsed as Parliamentary candidates.

We are also going to support Labour candidates in marginal seats elsewhere in London (and maybe even beyond). We have to win the marginals to form the next Government and elect Jeremy as our next Prime Minister. It is as simple (and difficult) as that.

Remember that most of the national media is against Labour and that the Tories will always outspend us during this campaign. Our major weapon is our 500,000 members (1800 in West Ham alone) and our millions of trade union & other affiliates. If we can mobilise them to campaign effectively for Labour in the marginals we can (and will) win.

68% of votes wasted in General Election

(NB. Below is why our election system in this country is nuts). Picture BBC 68% of votes had no impact on election result: Electoral Reform Society publish definitive report on June vote EMBARGOED: ‘The 2017 General Election: Volatile Voting – Random Results’ report also shows 6.5m estimated to have voted tactically, and models result under different voting systems using YouGov survey of 13,000+ voters Strictly embargoed for Monday 21st August 2017, 00:01 Final report here: https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017-UK-General-Election-Report.pdf For more information or to arrange and interview with a spokesperson, contact mediaoffice@electoral-reform.org.uk or 020 3714 4079 The instability of Westminster’s supposedly ‘strong and stable’ voting system has been laid bare, according to extensive new research by the Electoral Reform Society. The Society’s landmark General Election report, ‘The 2017 General Election: Volatile Voting, Random Results’, reveals: Volatile voting: This election saw the second highest electoral volatility (the movement of votes between parties) since 1931. People are switching sides and shopping around at ‘astonishing’ levels Wasted votes: 68% of votes had no impact on the result – 22 million votes were wasted this election [1] Tiny margins: 0.0016% of voters choosing differently would have given the Conservatives a majority, while the election saw rise in very marginal seats: eleven seats were won by fewer than 100 votes  The ‘hold your nose’ election: ERS estimate 6.5 million people voted tactically, alongside surge in smaller parties standing aside  A divisive system: First Past the Post is exaggerating divisions in the UK – Labour secured 29% of South East vote but got just 10% of seats, while Conservatives won 34% of the North East vote but got just 9% of seats. Meanwhile, the SNP continue to be over-represented in Scotland, as is Labour in Wales, while Northern Ireland voters are forced into two camps  Seats not matching votes: The Conservatives largely benefited from the discrepancy between votes and seats, winning 56% of English seats on 46% of the vote – while losing out significantly in Wales. The voting system is struggling to keep up with huge changes in partisan alignment [2] The results under PR: Labour would have emerged as largest party under Scotland and Northern Ireland’s Single Transferable Vote system, according to huge YouGov survey of voters’ party preferences [3] Darren Hughes, newly-appointed Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “For the third time in a row, Westminster’s voting system has failed to do what it says on the tin – produce a ‘strong and stable’ government. “June’s election has shown First Past the Post is unable to cope with people’s changing voting habits – forcing citizens and parties to try and game the system. With an estimated 6.5 million people ‘holding their nose’ at the ballot box, voters have been denied real choice and representation. “This surge in tactical voting – double the rate of 2015 – meant voters shifted their party allegiances at unprecedented rates, with the second highest level of voter volatility since the inter-war years. A system designed for two parties cannot accommodate these complex electoral swings. “In the nations and regions of the UK, elections now feel more like lottery than a real choice. As we’ve shown, tiny shifts in the vote result in drastically different outcomes. Having results hinge on a few hundred voters is no way to run a modern democracy. “The vast majority of votes are going to waste, with millions still stuck in the electoral black hole of winner-takes-all. A diverse and shifting public having to work around a broken two-party system. The result is volatile voting, and random results in the different parts of the UK. “There are a wide range of systems where votes are not thrown on the electoral scrapheap. We need to move towards a means of electing our MPs where all voices are heard and where people don’t feel forced to hold their nose at the ballot box. “2017 was the third strike for First Past the Post. It’s out.” Embargoed report link: https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017-UK-General-Election-Report.pdf Read the ERS’ 2015 General Election report here: https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/2015-UK-General-Election.pdf [1] Number of wasted votes by region  [2] Seats don't match votes (Conservatives in blue, Labour in red) [3] The results projected under different voting systems (based on YouGov survey of 13,000 voters)   Party FPTP AV AMS STV Conservative 317 303 273 283 Labour 262 286 260 297 Liberal Democrats 12 11 39 29 UKIP 0 0 11 1 Green Party 1 1 7 1 SNP 35 27 21 18 Plaid Cymru 4 2 4 3

West Ham General Election Wash Up

This picture is from Wednesday evening, when we had a West Ham Labour General Election "Wash Up". CLP Officers, Branch organisers and secretaries were invited to our headquarters in Stratford to talk about and debate, what went right with our election campaign, what could had been done better and preparing for the next General Election (which who really knows but could happen anytime soon).

It was a constructive and honest debate and as the Parliamentary agent for the election who chaired the meeting, I am pleased that everyone present contributed. A report on our findings will be sent out to the CLP. A working group on social media was agreed and will meet soon.

On the whole, most things went well in the election and of course, we won in West Ham with a massive increased majority for our MP, Lyn Brown with 77% of the vote. However, we need to get out more of  our 2,000 West Ham Labour members being active and out campaigning and door knocking in marginals.

This is a really exciting time to be involved in politics and I cannot wait for the next General Election and for the West Ham campaigning machine to play its part in electing a Labour government.

(selfie of us with our top CLP Women's Officer, Cllr Seyi Akiwowo)

West Ham Labour "Thank You" Party 2017 General Election

Love this picture from last nights "thank you" Party in Eat16, St Lukes, Canning town hosted by our newly elected member of Parliament for West Ham, Lyn Brown (fantastic Chili from Lyn). Many thanks to Sarah Ruiz from East16 for the Veggie Chilli.

Great cake provided by top General election campaigner Muhammed Ravat

West Ham General Election day 2017 (we win)

June 8 was not only a political historic day nationally but a busy day locally for all activists. At 4.30am 10 members of West Ham Women's forum were in Ilford North to deliver the "don't forget to vote" leaflets as were other West Hammers in marginal seats around London and Essex.

In West Ham itself we encouraged members on this day to go to either Ilford North or Westminster North marginals although many went to other seats including Dagenham. We had leafleting at our local schools and railway stations and we asked supporters who could not go to marginals to stand outside our polling stations to hand out leaflets.

As the Parliamentary Agent I spent most of the day in West Ham picking up elderly and disabled residents in my car and taking them to the polling station or organising lifts via local activists. I have always found it fascinating to do this. Life long Labour supporters who despite often being in pain and discomfort insisting that they will do their democratic duty and vote for their Party.

The reaction as I drove around with my little UNISON Labour link flag on my car was extremely positive with lots of waves, beeping of horns and flashing of lights apart from one potty mouth yob who received a traditional anglo-saxon visual response.

We had been asked by London Labour Party to arrange for them to be updated on turnout figures at selected polling stations and from noon all "Lyn Brown campaign "or West Ham Labour phone enquiries were diverted to my mobile as everyone else went off to the key marginals.

I had quite a few calls including media enquiries and they were nearly all pretty fascinating. They were predominantly from residents who had never voted and had no idea what to do.  I was asked what happens in the polling station, how do they actually vote, if they could vote via their mobile phone, is their vote secret, do they have to make a cross or a number?

It began to be clear to me that a number of young and old residents who have never voted before were planning to vote.

In the evening I visited a number of West Ham polling stations with our candidate Lyn Brown. She had a fantastic reception in all of them and in some she was actually (I exaggerate slightly) "mobbed" by constituents giving thumbs up, wishing us luck, saying hello and wanting to have their photo taken with her.

In all the polling stations we visited it was clear from talking to Presiding officers that turnout was up. Something was clearly happening. What that was we obviously did not know for certain at that tme.

At 9.45pm I was at the Velodrome in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the Newham Count (West and East Ham).

I met up with our 13 West Ham Count Agents and after a briefing we took our places at our Count to "sample" our vote. I won't say more about this apart than it is really important to do this and find out where your local vote is weak or strong.

I was running around at 10PM but managed to see on the Communal TV the result of the BBC Exit poll that there would be a a hung Parliament, which put a huge smile on my face.

It was a long night. After the sampling was complete we still had to take part in the checking and adjudication process on whether certain ballot papers were properly filled out or not. Including those individuals who had drawn very obscene but usually somewhat amusing cartoons on their ballot papers.

The West Ham declaration was about 3.30am, Lyn was reelected with 46,591 votes, 77% of the electorate an 8.3% increase since 2015.

Afterwards many of us went to the Wanstead Tap bar to watch the results (and drink beer). I went home at about 6.30am feeling so happy but determined. There will rerun some time soon and as long as the Labour movement work together - we will win and form the next government. 

Some facts and figures about 8 June

Hat tip to Dave Ratchford for the chart and figures below. Worth reflecting about I think. 

"Labour Share of Vote in recent elections

1983 206 seats 27.6% of the vote 8.4m

1987 229 seats 30.9% of the vote 10m

1992 271 seats 34.4% of the vote 11.5m

1997 418 seats 43.2% of the vote 13.5m

2001 413 seats 40.7% of the vote 10.7m

2005 355 seats 35.2% of the vote 9.5m

2010 258 seats 29 % of the vote  8.6m

2015 232 seats 30.4% of the vote  9.3m

2017 262 seats 40 % of the vote  12.87m

Dave calls the result "Not a win.  But pretty much a victory in my book on the way to winning that war". 

I must agree.

On the Andrew Marr show this morning it was amazing to see George Osborne sticking the knife into Theresa May calling her a "dead women walking". Jeremy Corbyn was interviewed and looked relaxed and confident (while Theresa May was according to Osborne being  "hidden away").

Tonight, speaking to my Mum on Facetime, she told me how proud she was that so many people had seen through the Tories and being brave to vote for Labour despite all the nasty and horrible media attacks.  If we unite, next time we will win.

I must agree (not only as a dutiful son)

Back to real life (but not for long)

As much as I enjoy campaigning, it is has been marvellous to spend a lazy Saturday morning without worrying about deadlines, printing off walks, knocking on doors and dealing with the inevitable problems and frustrations suffered by election agents of all parties in all 650 seats.

It was great to have the time off this afternoon to attend the 1st birthday party for my Great Niece, Teagan.

Of course, I could not resist some very subtle subliminal influencing when handing over her bag of pressies.

I will enjoy the rest but fully expect to be back on the General Election campaign trail again sometime soon. Bring it on.

Vote Labour Today - For the Many Not the Few

Polls close 10pm tonight

You do not need your polling card to vote. Just go to the polling station and give your name and address.

If you don't know where your polling station is click here

If you are a postal voter and have not yet voted you can take it to any polling station (in your Parliamentary seat area) and hand it in

If you can't find your postal vote or have filled it in wrongly you can get a new one by applying to your returning officer by 5pm today.

"Theresa May's policing policy is based on a lie, says Labour's acting Shadow Home Secretary Lyn Brown"

Check out Mirror report "Lyn Brown has stepped in to replace Diane Abbott as acting Shadow Home Secretary - here's what she thinks of Theresa May's record on policing

The past two weeks have been traumatic, and the nation mourns for the victims of the despicable attacks in Manchester and London.

People are rightly concerned about whether the cuts to our police have increased our vulnerability to terror. But that is far from the only problem those cuts have caused.

The bottom line is that the Tory policy on policing is based on a lie: they have said it is okay that police funding has been cut because crime is falling. But that’s not true.

First of all, the latest data shows that violent crime, which includes offences that have the most devastating impact like homicide and knife crime, is increasing, as is credit card fraud.

And second, the type of crime is changing: it is more international, more online, and increasingly likely to involve vulnerable people, including children.

Crimes are more complex and so more costly to prevent and respond to than in the past.

But there’s another big reason why Tory complacency on policing is so wrong.

The horrible truth is that with such dramatic cuts across the whole of our public services, the police are having to pick up the pieces.

The official inspector for policing, Sir Tom Winsor, recently described police cars being called because ambulances weren’t available. People in the middle of a mental health crisis are being locked up in police cells because they simply wouldn’t be safe anywhere else.

It’s not hard to see that the job description for a policeman or woman in Britain has been stretched way beyond preventing crime.

Faced with these pressures, at the very least you would think that the government would have sought to prioritise the cash it does have to the places that need it most.

But that hasn’t happened either. Instead, they have just salami-sliced budgets year after year regardless of the differing needs in different parts of the country.

So much so that we’ve seen another lie – as recently as 18 months ago they said they would protect budgets after inflation. That hasn’t happened, and when individual police forces express concern the government just tells them to raise what they need through council tax, even though that is impossible in poorer parts of the country.

Overall, since 2010, under Theresa May, police numbers have been cut by 20,000.

It’s time for the Tory deceit to stop. Labour understands that to have a well-functioning police force it needs to be well-resourced.

We are committing to provide funding to the 43 forces across England and Wales to hire an extra 10,000 officers operating in community policing roles – equivalent to another bobby on the beat in every neighbourhood.

This will help our police services to be more effective in every respect, not only dealing with anti-social behaviour and complex criminal investigations, but creating more of the community relationships and intelligence that stop terror attacks in their tracks.

We’ll pay for this by reversing cuts to capital gains tax that only give money to those who are already well off.

We’ve had enough of the security of the many being put at risk so the pockets of the wealthy few can be filled with tax cuts. The truth of is that our police force needs better support and better funding. Only a Labour government will deliver it.

BBC Election poll tracker - Looking Close

Looking close. The real poll is tomorrow. Need to Get Our Vote Out!

What did you do in the 2017 Election?

Dear John If you've got any time on Election Day to help Labour you're really needed in nearby marginals. Below are details for Ilford North (where we won in 2015 by 589 votes) and Westminster North. There's also info about leafleting in Stratford on Weds eve and an invitation to a social to watch the results come in... Ilford North - Click here for info and to sign up to help in Ilford North (or go to 6 Aintree Crescent, Ilford, IG6 2HD, nr Fairlop stn) Westminster North - Click here for info and to sign up to help in Westminster North (or go to 4G Shirland Mews, London W9 3DY) And if you're really keen - Ilford North is asking for volunteers to deliver leaflets at 5.30am! (click here) Sunday Night Live, West Ham CLP and Newham Fabians invite members to a get together to watch the results come in on a big screen with snacks and political punditry. Email SundayNightLive1@gmail.com to apply (you must register to attend as places limited). And last activity in West Ham before polling day - leafleting and chatting to voters in Stratford - Weds eve 5-7pm  Meet Karl there. Thank you. Have a good election and hope to see you somewhere. And don't forget to vote! Julianne Marriott Vice Chair, West Ham Labour Party

Don't Kiss Your NHS Goodbye: VOTE LABOUR THIS THURSDAY

Please share if you want a free NHS or have a USA Trump style scheme that will demand evidence that you can pay before you or your family receive any treatment.

The choice on Thursday is yours. Do not dare to whinge if you vote to kiss your NHS goodbye. 

West Ham on tour in Spennymoor - General Election 2017

Picture collage from last Monday when a few of us from West Ham Labour Party, led by our PPC Lyn Brown, went up to Bishop Auckland in County Durham to support local Labour candidate, Helen Goodman.

We went first to a short mobilisation event of local party members in Spennymoor which was addressed by Helen and Yvette Cooper. PPC Sharon Hodgson was also there.  Yvette gave a pretty comprehensive demolition on any suggestions that the Tories were the party of law and order by detailing all the cuts in police and front line civilian staff.  Check out the UNISON map here https://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/police-and-justice-staff/key-issues/cut-crime-not-police/ to find out the Tory policing cuts in your area.

Next we went to canvass in Spennymoor with local activists. West Hammer, Muhammed Ravat, led our canvass team. There was many positive Labour responses particularly amongst women but there was some difficult conversations from a small number of people angry with Labour. When you delve deeper into this anger you find it is largely about rubbish pay, rotten and insecure jobs or inadequate housing. Ironically of course, Labour now has the strongest response in decades in addressing these real issues. We need to get that message out.

After the canvass there was a meeting with firefighters at  Bishop Auckland fire station. Lyn used to be the shadow Home Office spokesperson on fire authorities.

We then had another canvass session in St Chads (which had some fantastic individual gardens - see college). I had some in depth conversations with lifelong Labour voters about the general election and the need for working class people to see off the Tories. We know what they will do to us if they get in power for another 5 years. 

West Ham Labour volunteers on Polling Day 8 June

On Saturday I sent off my postal vote (see right). Tonight I have been ringing some of the 225 West Ham Party members and residents who have volunteered to help on polling day. We have also sent them this email below. We need to win these marginals!!!

Dear Friend

Thank you for signing up to help the Labour party in the 2017 General Election. 
We're asking you to help us in two places where the result may be really close: Ilford North and Westminster North.

Ilford North - Click here for info and to sign up to help in Ilford North

Westminster North - Click here for info and to sign up to help in Westminster North

And if you're really keen - Ilford North are asking for volunteers to deliver leaflets at 5.30am! (click here)

 Thank you again for signing up to help. In 2015 Labour only won in Ilford North by 589 votes. Every single vote really does count so if you're able to help you will be making a real difference.

Thank you

Julianne Marriott
Vice Chair, West Ham Labour Party

Why Vote Labour (5 top reasons if you belong to a trade union)

(sent to UNISON Labour Link members). Above from whyvotelabour.org.uk.. Check it out.

"it's the final countdown to the General Election with polls narrowing.

UNISON is acting as the lead union supporting Ilford North CLP, Ealing, Central & Acton CLP and Hampstead & Kilburn CLP.

If you turn up at one of these campaign offices, at any time, there will be a job for you to do.  In this final week before polling day UNISON members really can make a difference.  Whatever of your own time you can give it will be appreciated. 

The campaign officers are as follows:

Ilford North CLP
12a Highview Parade, Woodford Ave IG4 5EP (nearest tube is Gants Hill and there is a cycle rack and on-street car parking available)
Organiser - Ellie Taylor / ellie@redbridgelabour.org.uk

Ealing, Central & Acton CLP
Ruskin Hall, 16 church road W3 8PP
Organiser - John Cox / johncoxealing@gmail.com

Hampstead & Kilburn CLP
288 Kilburn High Rd, London NW6
Organiser - Oliver Denton / ondenton@gmail.com

To help you put public services at the top of the agenda in the election debate, UNISON has provided a simple one-stop web page making it easy for members to ask their local candidates about the issues.

And Unions Together - the joint body of all the unions affiliated to the Labour Party - has just launched a website to help persuade undecided union members to vote labour, at whyvotelabour.org.uk.

UNISON Greater London Region - Standing up for Public Services"

"Corbyn Shock Surge in London"

Not that I would normally believe a word that the @EveningStandard says but hmmmm.....

Check out LabourList instead.

General Election - next week!

Dear John It's a week to go. The polls are narrowing. The next five years are about to be decided. If you have any time over the next week, please come out now to help Labour. The weather's nice and it might even be fun... Please help to fund Lyn Brown's election campaign We will spend thousand of pounds on Leaflets, Letters, Posters and Street Stalls in West Ham over the next few weeks. Please help if you can. A. Click here [DONATION]  or B. Send a cheque made payable to West Ham Labour Party, to John Gray, Election Agent, West Ham CLP, 306 High Street, E15 1AJ All donations go to West Ham Labour Party and will be used for Lyn's campaign in West Ham. ILFORD NORTH 11am, 2pm and 6pm every day. Meeting 12a High View Parade, Woodford Av, IG4 5EP (a 12 min walk from Gants Hill stn on the Central Line - exit 1). Turn up and say you're from West Ham (and they'll look after you if you haven't campaigned before). Polling Day in Ilford North - they're going to be busy all day. 5.30am leafletting - click here to sign up  Door knocking all day - click here to sign up This Saturday Newham Co-op and West Ham CLP will be out in Harrow West supporting Gareth Thomas, Chair of the Co-op Party - meet John Gray (ring 07432 150 530) at 1.15pm or meet in Harrow at 2.15pm, 132 Blenheim Rd, HA2 7AA (3 mins walk from Harrow West tube). WEST HAM Tonight Weds 31 May Canning Town South, 6.30pm, Contact Alan West Ham, 6.30pm,  Contact David or John Whitworth Thurs 1 JuneWest Ham will be helping Karen Buck in Westminster North at 2pm and 6pm. If you're free and can help - please meet at Labour office 4g Shirland Mews, W9 3DY (10 mins from Westbourne Pk tube which is only 35 mins from Stratford or West Ham tubes). Stratford, 5pm-7pm, Contact: Karl Women's Forum (women only) Canning Town South, Contact Gen or Seyi Sat 3 June Street stall - outside Forest Gate Station, 11am to 12.30pm and Forest Gate North, 11am, contact John 07432 150 530 Plaistow South, 11am, . Contact Neil Women's Forum Street Stall, 11am, E20 Street Stall, please wear red! V Contact Gen or Seyi Custom House, 11.30am, Contact Rokhsana or Momodou Canning Town North, 12pm, Contact Shabs Forest Gate South, 4pm, Contact Joel Sun 4 June Plaistow South, 2pm, Contact Neil Wilson Mon 5 June Stratford, 6pm-8pm leafleting with a canvass session leaving 7pm. Contact: Karl Plaistow South, 6pm, Contact Neil West Ham, 6:30pm, Contact David or John W on 07763 651131 Tues 6 June Women's Forum (women only), 6pm, Contact Gen or Seyi  Plaistow North, 6pm, contact Daniel or Mehmood Polling Day!  Please do go and help one of the nearby marginals (see details at top for Ilford North). If you want to stay in West Ham we'll put you in touch with your ward organiser as we will be leafleting stations. Thanks again to everyone who's been out and if you haven't yet please come out and help this last week... Best wishes Julianne Julianne Marriott Vice Chair (Campaigns and Comms) West Ham CLP e westhamlabour@gmail.com  t @westhamlabour  f westhamlabour  w westhamlabour.org