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. 

"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.  

Kent Street ASB, Cleaning & Parking Walkabout

Last Wednesday I took part in a "Walkabout" in Kent Street, Plaistow South ward, West Ham with local Councillors, residents and our new ward based housing officers. There are a lot of problems with Anti-social behaviour, parking, communal disrepair and cleaning.

I am really pleased with the approach of the new Housing officer's liaison team. They are tasked with inspecting all tall tower blocks with local Councillors and residents every month and low rise blocks every 3 months. There were a number of actions agreed to tackle the problems we found.  Some more easy than others.

We are also introducing controlled parking zones on all housing estate land and car parks (subject to consultation) which will help stop its misuse by non residents.

Day 3 of Newham Mayoral Trigger fiasco - Plaistow North & South Massive Vote for Open Selection

There was a BBC news crew outside the selection meetings last night I understand. So 18 "NO" for an open selection and 1 "YES" in Plaistow North.  Then 19 "NO" to open selection and another 1 "YES"  in Plaistow South.

The massacre continues but why, why, why on earth are we wasting time and money on this vanity project? 

Today is Super Thursday - Forest Gate South, Forest Gate North & Stratford & Newtown.  

(It is rumoured that Forest Gate North members will vote "YES" since they do not appreciate being told how to vote by the Mayor).

Hat tip https://twitter.com/newhamselection

More info http://www.newhamforopenselection.org/

and https://www.facebook.com/NewhamTriggerBallot/

Campaigning in Plaistow South & Running a Board

This canvass took place two Sundays ago. I "ran the board" for the team which means I gave out names and addresses to canvassers to go and call at then collate any information. I quite enjoy this from time to time since it is mentally challenging to control a team especially in a part of this ward that I have only canvassed once before a few years back.

However, it can get a little repetitive and I miss the face to face contact with people.

This area used to be a BNP stronghold but thankfully is now a strong Labour seat. We had two ward local councillors with us, Neil and Aleen, so they were able to pick up Council case work. There was one house where the owner was unhappy that the Council will not pick up and recycle glass during rubbish collections. So she had left all the bottles she had used in the last few years on her drive. There were "a lot" of bottles. I am not sure what Neil is going to do with that one?

There were a number of really pretty and well kept gardens in the area. A bizarre door entry system for a block of flats where the button to open the communal door (top right) was on the outside not the inside?

On way back I noticed a wonderful example of street art by Prince Regents Lane Post office (bottome right). 

On the knocker in Plaistow South 25 March

On Saturday 25 March I helped out again, the Plaistow South Labour Party branch on a campaign day with local Councillors and activists. The weather was kind to us this time being unseasonably warm and sunny.

There are no elections planned in London for 2017 (apart from local by elections) The top issues on this door knock was "Parking" and "Rubbish". A new Parking zone was welcomed by many residents and criticised by some. You cannot please all the people all the time when it comes to parking.

Newham Council charges for the collection of bulk rubbish items was discussed and whether it increased fly tipping or not. I think there was however agreement that there had been fly tripping even when Newham did not charge for removal.

Interesting discussion about trade union organising with a ward member who is a GMB activist in their private hire professional driver branch. The growing "uber economy" many be generating huge profits for some entrepreneurs but is bad news for many workers.  Check out this amazing video of Uber founder https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/28/uber-ceo-travis-kalanick-driver-argument-video-fare-prices

(Finally note to myself as a branch organiser. One thing that all the canvassers agreed upon is that having double sided canvass sheets is more trouble than it is worth. Political canvassers of all persuasions will know what I mean. The Greens may not agree).

West Hammers out Khanpaigning in Green St, Plaistow & Custom House

It has been a busy weekend for West Ham Labour. Yesterday I was out with a Labour canvass team for Sadiq Khan as mayor in Green Street. See Vice Chair Campaigns, Julianne Marriott, briefing the team beforehand on what to do. Highlight of the morning was calling at a Roman Catholic nunnery.

Then we met our MP Lyn Brown, at the East Shopping centre which was celebrating its first birthday. Some members also attended the anti racism rally in Trafalgar Square.

In the afternoon we were in Plaistow South ward with City & East GLA candidate Unmesh Desai.  As you can see from the photo outside the fire station, we had a number of (very) young socialists with us. I was with the team led by Stratford Cllr, Charlene McLean, who used her daughters pram to hold spare leaflets and sheets. Picked up some repair and school issues which were dealt with by local Cllr Neil Wilson. Picture of excited staffie, stalking cat and CLP secretary, Alan Griffiths.

In the evening there was a meeting of City and East Momentum followed by a social in Forest Gate. This morning there was another canvass team out in Custom House led by local Councillors Rokhsana Fiaz and Pat Holland. This evening there is Sunday Night Live at the Stratford Picture House on "Does Feminism Need a Upgrade" (5pm-6.30)

Click on picture to bring up detail.

Plaistow South Sunday Canvass (& BNP Love Story?)

The summer break is long over and it is time to be back “on the knocker”. Calling on local people in Newham to identify any local issues that they want resolving and their voting intentions.

Yesterday there was a large team out in Canning Town South and this afternoon I helped out in Plaistow South (West Ham CLP). Local Councillor Graham Lane (2nd right) and Neil Wilson (4th right) each led a team.

The voter identification went very well but I was surprised that we picked up very little casework considering we had local ward councillors with us. But I then found out that the local Councillors hold a successful weekly surgery in the New Vic School which is just nearby.

Interesting story told about how one local resident use to regularly stand in elections as a candidate - year in – year out - for the BNP. Then one day when a Labour Party canvasser called he told him that he was no longer in the BNP. He admitted he had been expelled because he had married a “non white”.

omnia vincit amor