Every vote counts (wining by 1)

 

I was naturally really pleased to see this election declaration yesterday (see previous post John's Labour blog: "On the knocker" in Hainault By Election) but winning - by one vote out of 2903 cast!  It must have been so stressful for the 2 leading candidates, their agents and Council staff. 

There was a recount and no doubt the candidate's counting agents would have been scrutinising every single vote. I understand that there was another Council by election victory yesterday by one vote in Norwich and of course the infamous "victory" of Reform by 5 votes when 32,655 were cast (2025 Runcorn and Helsby by-election - Wikipedia).

However, politics can be cruel and a "win is a win". I have never campaigned beforehand in any election that was so close and it makes me think how important it is when you campaign in the future to say to yourself that this election could be won or lost - by one vote. 

"On the knocker" in Hainault By Election

 

Today I went to help out in the Labour campaign to elect Helen Mullis as a Labour Councillor in a Council by election in Hainault, Redbridge, London. 

It was a lovely warm and sunny day. On route I saw local MP Jas Athwal. 

At first I was on a team with local activists (including a NHS UNISON member) and Portsmouth MP, Amanda Martin, which went knocking on doors of voters near Hainault Country Park to remind them to vote. 

I rang one video internet door bell and had a conversation with a voter who was away in Cyprus, who obviously could not vote that day. 

When I knocked on another door, I thought the resident who answered seemed familiar but I could not place her. She remarked on my UNISON tee-shirt and it turned out she is the sister of former UNISON National Health and Safety Officer, Hope Daily, who I did a year long TUC/IOSH safety diploma  course with many years ago. 

After a delicious home cooked chicken curry snack at the campaign headquarters, I went out in a second group with my colleague Newham Sue (Masters), local Councillors, Helen & Prabjit and activist Alex. I was asked to lead the Group using the Labour Doorstep phone app. Beforehand Wes Streeting MP came out with a canvass team as well. 

This canvass was very positive. Newham Sue treated us to ice creams towards the end of the canvass which went down very well. We had 35 contacts in total which wasn't that bad. 

Fingers crossed for Labour candidate, Helen Mullis, everyone I met who had actually spoken to her, were very complimentary. 

UPDATE: Helen won - by one vote! John's Labour blog: Every vote counts (wining by 1)