Norwich North: Well, it could have been worse – Onwards and Forwards

Shame about the result in Norwich North but not totally unexpected. The “Dr” did have significant personal support amongst voters.

To be honest, hearing this support again and again on the doorstep and on the telephone did surprise me. After all the “Great British Public” were suppose to be on the warpath and after MPs blood? I think that constituents are actually more knowing about things than the gutter press would have us think.

It is a pity that Labour voters decided to give us a kicking by staying at home. But we came a clear second and I fully expect a Labour MP to be returned after the next General Election. Not least because boundary changes will mean two Tory Wards will be moved out of the constituency.

The Tories and other opposition Parties are still not winning by-elections by the margin they should if they really expect to do well in the next election. The Cameron juggernaut will eventually splutter and come to rest. Events dear boy, events...

Labour is still in a good position to win. IMHO. More red water please! Onwards and Forwards comrades.

Fighting the Good Fight in Norwich North

Back from a good day out with a West Ham CLP canvass team in Norwich North. The Labour Party candidate, Chris Ostrowski, is facing a strong challenge from the Tories. The day went pretty smoothly. When we arrived at the Labour HQ, local MP Charles Clarke was being interviewed outside by the Telly while standing under an umbrella. It rained on and off most of the day but wasn’t too bad. The Labour Party campaign headquarters itself was unusually calm, efficient and organised. Good sign!

We were swiftly sent off to a sub office in Catton Grove. Where we spent the day canvassing door-to-door and delivering some targeted leaflets. I knew the ward organiser via SERTUC. Most of the patch belonged to Norwich City Council and their stock was on the whole in pretty good condition and well cared for by the Landlord and the residents. We had a pretty positive reception even though I had one resident who after I posted the target mailing opened his door muttered furiously about God know what and threw the leaflet back out onto the floor and slammed the door shut. I put his leaflet in his recycling box.

There was a piano in one communal hallway which I wondered about while I noticed that one resident had converted their front door to resemble a shiny red post office box. I wonder if he or she was on strike Friday as well?

There were loads and loads of friendly Labour Students from all over - out delivering and door knocking.

I tried to help one elderly resident whose Yale key was stuck in her front door and she could not get in. I was called over because I was “a housing officer and will know what to do”. I failed miserably to open the door since the key was bent but the next door neighbour was looking after her and had called a locksmith.

My highlight of the day was trying to persuade a Labour supporter to use our “Promise Card” as a reminder to vote on the day. I explained carefully how he could keep it on his mantelpiece or behind a fridge magnet. To which he smiled nicely and said “or I could keep it in the rubbish bin?” while reassuring me that he would vote Labour and did not need all this “fuss” to do so. I still think that the “promise cards” are a good idea.

There were a few Tory canvassers about but the Green Party had bizarrely a (mostly) red ex-London transport double Decker as some sort of a “Battle Bus” polluting the environment with a loud, grating and almost completely intelligible PA system. Keep it up Swampy! Towards the end of day we actually canvassed the streets around the bus which appeared to have broken down.

On the whole we all felt that it had been a very positive and even friendly canvass. The big problem I suspect will be getting our vote out on the day. If we get our vote out we will win. So if you are available in person this Thursday then please turn up to help out. Or if you cannot then go to Labour Party members net virtual phone bank and pick up the phone.

(centre picture of the Sunday West Ham team led by our MP, Lyn Brown and 3 of the 4 Johns: double click to expand)

West Ham Labour to help out in Norwich North

(Email sent out this evening to Party members).

Dear Comrades

Our Party has asked for maximum support from CLP’s to encourage members to turn out and campaign for the Labour Candidate, Chris Ostrowski, who is standing in next weeks Norwich North By-election. So after consulting with the West Ham CLP Chair and Secretary - I have decided to cancel Saturday’s stall at Green Street and Sunday’s door knock.

What we want to do is encourage everyone to go to Norwich this weekend instead. The Party needs us to help out and defeat the Tories.

I am trying to see if we can possibly arrange a minibus for Saturday and Sunday (details to follow tomorrow). Some West Ham members are planning to go by train (from Liverpool Street or Stratford - see Trainline). Others may want to drive.

Check out the “Norwich North” Campaign website here for their HQ, map and address (Labour Campaign HQ, Unit 9, Concorde Road, Norwich, NR6 6BH – the telephone number is 01603 622107.

I will send out another email tomorrow with further information.

Please let me know by telephone tomorrow afternoon 2pm if you are interested in coming by minibus (if I can arrange it), by pooled cars or train.

Our MP Lyn Brown will be coming with us on Saturday and Sunday.

Norwich is a lovely City and I am sure that members will enjoy campaigning there!

Let me know if you can help the Party out this Weekend.

Many regards

John Gray
West Ham Agent

(Please forward this email to anyone else who may be interested in going)

On the "dog and bone" for Norwich North Labour

Tonight we held a telecanvass session in the heart of the East End (Stratford High Street, Newham, E15) for Labour candidate Chris Ostrowski who is standing in next week’s Norwich North by-election.

Some of us were using the Labour Party “Virtual Phone Bank” (see pictures – showing training data only). This is an Internet resource available to all Labour Party members. You can make telecanvass calls on behalf of the Party to and from all over the UK.

All you need to do is log on at the Labour Party Members Net (you just need your party membership number) then once you have created an account - click on to the Virtual Phone Bank link. There is a straight foreword training and practice session then you can select which CLP you want and start ringing people.

You are given names, telephone numbers and a script. You just input the answers with your mouse. Many people nowadays have free telephone call packages– especially “off peak”. So you don’t even need to come into a call centre but you could ring from home.

Due to limited computers and laptops we also got members canvassing our Plaistow North ward as well.

I thought that the canvass went quite well. It is always hard to judge and this is a difficult time for the Party at the moment. But I found that the people I managed to speak to were on the whole pleased to be contacted and to be canvassed for their vote. There was overall positive Labour support and certainly no great appetite for any other opposition Party.

I am really fond of Norfolk and Norwich and have a lot of really good trade union members there who I hope will be supporting Chris.

The election is next week and we will have another central telecanvass session in the Stratford Party Rooms on Tuesday but we will be encouraging all West Ham members with access to also log on from home, get on their East End “dog and bone” and canvass for Chris in Norwich North.