Went off today with Newham Labour Party comrades to help out in the Shadwell By-Election, Tower Hamlets. One of the Respect Councillors for the ward resigned suddenly a few weeks ago claiming that Respect was “bickering, immature, self serving and militant”. No surprise there then. See action photo of Labour Party activists outside Limehouse DLR station planning campaign activities (middle Denise Jones the current leader of the Council, right is the Candiate, former Labour leader of Council, Michael Keith ).
It was an interesting afternoon. At first we tried to canvass the wealthy blocks near the Limehouse basin. It was really difficult to get in and even once in, many residents were either out or not registered. One particularly nasty Tory supporter threw a right wobbler about us daring to “canvass” his private block and was running around trying to get the site security to get us arrested! I tried to point out that we had been invited in by a resident, but he clearly was off his head. He wasn’t impressed when I then asked him if I could put him down as a Labour "possible". Nearly everyone else we called upon were perfectly okay and polite even if they did not support Labour.
Later we went to more traditional Tower Hamlets estates. See left with Newham Councillor James Butler.
We even met up with the opposition in the form of former Labour councillor and advisor to Ken Livingston turned Bethnal Green and Bow, Respect Parliamentary
candidate hopeful Kumar Murshid (big mate of Gorgeous George). Busy like us trying to infiltrate the Shadwell yuppie blocks.
It was quite uneventful, compared to previous recent campaigns; it seems that the gangs of Respect thugs intimidating opposition canvassers were not about. I hear that the price of a wrap is pretty low at the moment, so they must have their work cut out elsewhere.
There was no sign of any Tory or Lib Dem leaflets or canvassers?
Lovely dramatic Shadwell picture.
It was an interesting afternoon. At first we tried to canvass the wealthy blocks near the Limehouse basin. It was really difficult to get in and even once in, many residents were either out or not registered. One particularly nasty Tory supporter threw a right wobbler about us daring to “canvass” his private block and was running around trying to get the site security to get us arrested! I tried to point out that we had been invited in by a resident, but he clearly was off his head. He wasn’t impressed when I then asked him if I could put him down as a Labour "possible". Nearly everyone else we called upon were perfectly okay and polite even if they did not support Labour.
Later we went to more traditional Tower Hamlets estates. See left with Newham Councillor James Butler.
We even met up with the opposition in the form of former Labour councillor and advisor to Ken Livingston turned Bethnal Green and Bow, Respect Parliamentary
candidate hopeful Kumar Murshid (big mate of Gorgeous George). Busy like us trying to infiltrate the Shadwell yuppie blocks.It was quite uneventful, compared to previous recent campaigns; it seems that the gangs of Respect thugs intimidating opposition canvassers were not about. I hear that the price of a wrap is pretty low at the moment, so they must have their work cut out elsewhere.
There was no sign of any Tory or Lib Dem leaflets or canvassers?
Lovely dramatic Shadwell picture.
