West Ham plays at home then away at Thurrock and also Westminster #GE2019

This morning I went to a joint West Ham & East Ham Labour stall in Green Street to join our Labour Party Candidates, Lyn Brown and Stephen Timms. This was supposed to be a meeting point for our members to then go off and campaign in our marginal seats. I must admit to have been just a little frustrated at the constant calls for photo after photo rather than going out to the marginals but such is life. But if we don't go out and win our marginal seats in this general election, then we might as well just tell Boris to keep the keys to Number 10.

Happily, many members then went off to campaign in the marginal seats. I went with Lyn (and Cara our Labour attack dog, see picture of her and Lyn in Woolf Street) to Thurrock to support local Labour candidate, John Kent, who is seeking to overturn a 345 Tory majority. While other activists went with our Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, to support Gordon Nardell in the Cities & Westminster marginal.

I was very impressed with the Thurrock Labour Party campaign headquarters (Tilbury office, 10 Commonwealth House, Montreal Rd, RM18 7QX, there is nearby parking and they will pick you up from the station if you ring beforehand 07434 446148) they were very well organised, had food and drink and were very welcoming!

We went door knocking with a mostly West Ham team. We had a local Cllr, Lynn Worrall, with us. I was running the board (I had the list of addresses that the team had to call on and recorded the results). I gave both Lyns the difficult addresses, where it was known that these residents were opposed to Labour, It was a really good canvass and John Kent is obviously well respected as a real local candidate.

There was a little fuss and bother over #CaraGate, when one resident objected to Lyn Brown bringing Cara onto her property since they had cats. Cara was on a lead and there was no sign of said cats but Cara did unfortunately decide at that moment to have a little "sprinkle" in the garden, which as you can imagine, did not go down that well.

I should have sent Lynn W to that address since she later said that she went to school with that resident's father.

Apart from that it was a remarkably good canvass with lots of residents being supportive of John Kent who recognised that we need to get him elected as their MP.

Solidarity Saturday in Thurrock

A busy day for West Ham Labour. Started off in Thurrock, Essex in the morning with 2 West Ham canvass teams supporting Labour, one led by Lyn Brown MP and the other by local Candidate, Les Strange (on right of collage photo).

I went out with Les "on the knocker" in a small 1960s Council estate. This part of the ward used to have strong support for UKIP but I was pleased that many residents we spoke to were coming home to Labour. Local issues brought up included damp, disrepair, lack of consultation on road changes and "grass tax" (the local Tory Council tried to charge all Council tenants an extra £5 per week to maintain green spaces purely because of national Tory government curbs on rent).

Overall a positive canvass for Labour, Les had a real gift for talking to people and will make a brilliant Labour Councillor.

After a pub lunch at the Royal Oak is was off back to West Ham for two more events (posts to follow)  

Final weekend of campaigning in Stratford, West Ham & Ilford North

It's been a hectic few days and about to get even more busy. On Thursday and Friday we were out door knocking for Charlene and Lyn, in Stratford Ward, with comrades from East Ham. It was fascinating to see the original archway for the "Queen Mary's hospital for the East End" (1861-1983) which is now a modern housing development off Byrant Street, E15.

Saturday there was a stall in Stratford High Street then door knocking in Ilford North and Stratford. Other West Ham wards have also been door knocking and campaigning locally.

See the plaque in wall (top middle of collage). We came across this while out canvassing in Aldbourgh Hatch. We were all curious about who was "Maureen" and why is she credited with starting the estate in in March 1963?

Today (Sunday) West Ham activists joined East Ham in Ilford North, which has been described by LSE Professor, Tony Travers, as  "a very, very, very marginal seat. It's on a knife edge". If you can help out at Ilford North then volunteer here http://www.wesstreeting.org/polling_day_2015

West Hammers have been active not only in Ilford North, but also in Thurrock and other marginals. Tomorrow morning Women forum members will also be in Harlow.

Remember, if we don't win the marginals, then we will not have a Labour Government and Cameron will be your Prime Minister.
 

Campaigning for West Ham, Stratford & Thurrock

Picture collage of West Ham Labour Party campaigning for Polly Billington in the marginal seat of Thurrock and in Stratford & New Town ward.

In Stratford we managed to get into the new residential blocks either side of the High Street and were able to see some fantastic views over the area and the Queen Elizabeth Park.

West Ham are campaigning tonight in Ilford North from 6pm (Gants Hill HQ) and Stratford on Friday at 4pm. 

West Hammers in Ilford North #labourdoorstep

Yesterday morning after my Council Surgery I joined fellow West Ham CLP activists "next door" in the marginal seat of Ilford North.

We joined up with the Labour Candidate Wes Streeting and his team. 

West Ham CLP has been "twinned" with Ilford North (and Thurrock) for the General Election.

It is of course absolutely vital that we win these marginals next year to get rid of the Tories.  It will not be easy but I pleased to note that I did speak to residents who had voted Tory last time but were considering voting Labour in May.

Picture of Wes (2nd left) and team which included our "Supernice" and cute secret weapon in getting out the Labour vote, the pint sized West Ham ringer and number one "knock-er up-er" Milly!

You can find out details of further Ilford North campaigning here. 

West Ham at Grays #Labourdoorstep

This morning members of West Ham Labour Party were out knocking on doors in Grays, Essex with local Thurrock activists in support of their Parliamentary candidate, Polly Billington.

Polly is in the group picture with West Ham MP Lyn Brown (holding Labour attack dog Cara).

West Ham has been twinned with Thurrock for the General election campaign so we will becoming very familiar with the A13 and c2c trains. 

West Ham "on the knocker" in Thurrock for "Cost of Cameron" Day.

Today was a busy #CostofCameron day for West Ham Labour Party and other activists up and down the Country.

The Party targeted 106 marginal seats nationally and we locally went out to help comrades in our sister CLP in Thurrock, Essex. The aim of this campaign day is to speak to voters about why they are suffering a cut in their income due to this Tory Cost of Living Crisis.  Unlike (my view - see link) the "Fat Cat Executives" whose money has gone up and up at our expense.

Beforehand there had been a canvassing training session organised by West Ham Women's Forum. I had my ward surgery then at 11.30 (ish) 15 of us drove to Thurrock (others made their way by train).

The weather was glorious, perfect for being "on the knocker" - blue skies and thankfully dry. We divided into 3 teams and I was with John Whitworth, Charlene McLean and Gordon Miller.  Our MP Lyn Brown and local candidate Polly Billington led another team together with Thurrock activists.

Our reception was pretty good. A little different than canvassing in West Ham with its largely rock solid labour support but on the whole residents were pretty cheerful and even seemed to be pleased to see us! Even the odd Tories we came across!

The ward we were canvassing is currently Tory and based on previous experiences of campaigning out of London over the years I thought that we did pretty well. It was only one afternoon but I do think that even traditional Tory supporters, who are feeling the pain of year after year of pay cuts are starting to twig that a government that only delivers for the rich and not ordinary working families is frankly not worth supporting.

I am more and more convinced that 2015 is going to be about "the economy stupid" and while the NHS, Housing and Education will be important the Party that can persuade voters that they can put more money into their pockets and purses is going to win.

Hat tip ace photographer Gordon. 

Cost of Cameron Saturday

This Saturday 11 January 2014 Labour activists will launch the "Cost of Cameron" day across 106 key marginal seats.  West Ham will helping out its sister CLP in Thurrock, Essex with our MP, Lyn Brown.

I am always amazed that British people are not more angry about the huge loss of pay they have suffered under this Tory led coalition government. While at the same time the rich have got even richer?

Knocking up in Thurrock

This evening I was “knocking up” Labour supporters in Thurrock, Essex and reminding/encouraging/cajoling them to go out and vote for Labour candidate, Phil Smith.

I was in a canvass team with fellow West Hammers (CLP) vanguardists (and Newham Cllrs) Forhad Hussain and Ellie Robinson.  We were joined by Ron from Hackney South CLP (see main photo left to right). There were a number of Newham Party members out and about in Thurrock today, including the Mayor Sir Robin Wales (and in recent weeks).

Since there are no elections in London this year the Regional Labour Party have allocated each CLP a key Council election outside London to help out.

We were working in Stanford East & Corringham Ward. During the Election last year the Tories won the council seat by only 1649 votes to 1620. So this should be winnable but I do worry about the turn out in such local elections when compared to the General election.

It was all quite quiet. I didn’t see a single political poster in any window or garden. I didn’t see any other canvassers. All the people I met were very polite but those who had already voted were unusually hesitant in admitting to me who they had actually voted for. I had a good conversation with a Ford worker about the NHS, pensions and “Sending a message to Downing Street” about his concerns.

The most excitement of the night came from the traditional arguments amongst canvassers of all political persuasions helping out in new places about “we are lost” and “what way should we go?” (see photo left above) I think from now on, West Ham Labour Party should describe the direct route to anywhere as the “Ellie Way” and the going totally in the wrong direction route as the “Forhad way” :).  I was too lazy to do any map reading tonight.

It was still a good day. We met up with London Assembly John Biggs, Cllr Bill Turner from Tower Hamlets and Cllr Josephine Channer from Barking and Dagenham.

Update: check out some more photos on FB here

Update: Phil wins by 136 votes! Well done.

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.

Tories lose control of Thurrock and BNP go nowhere

Update: Great news from Thurrock – The Tories lost overall control of the Council and the BNP were given a good “kicking” (in the democratic sense of the word - even though retired members of Red Action may have been about). The BBC quoted Nazi Griffin (BNP leader) as claiming that they were expecting to take seats in Thurrock. Wrong. There may have been only two Labour gains, but it meant that the Tories lost overall control of the Council. Make's up a bit for the not particularly positive night for Labour. However, we did increase our national vote by 1%!

I was pleased that the ward that the West Ham team spent most time on “West Thurrock and South Stifford”, the Labour candidate, Julieann Burkey, thrashed the BNP 676 votes to 478. Last time the BNP came within 18 votes. Well done Julieann.

In the other ward we worked “Ockendon” the Labour candidate, Oliver Gerrish, only lost to the Tories by 13 votes (741 Tories 728 Labour). If I hadn’t got lost and took us over the QE bridge into Kent, would we been able to do one more “knock up” and get those votes? I blame the map reader! (typical, bloody campaign group supporters, they know what they want but can’t work out a way to get there!)

Although London Labour members (there is no election in London this year) obviously played their part, as I posted last night, the real credit for their success must lie with the local Thurrock Labour Party and the hard work that must have gone on well before 3 May. The local members had that familiar sleep deprived “walking dead” look (a compliment in these circumstances). The canvassing returns were pretty accurate, we didn’t have to hang around or wait to be sent out, their election leaflets were good and the Party members seemed to work well as a team (no obvious internal bickering, no temper tantrums et al). No doubt there will be lessons to be learnt. However, “Hats off” to Thurrock.

My view of the overall national result is that 485 loses is nothing to go on about, however, I was encouraged by the support that Labour enjoyed even in these admittedly difficult times. So if we have an electable leader (and deputy?) who can run an effective political campaign, keep the economy stable, who can show they have learnt from the mistakes of the past, then Labour should win, big time.