Stratford High Street Labour Stall with our Gerry.

This morning I spent some time observing and helping out at a busy local Councillor Saturday ward surgery. It was pretty varied and interesting stuff. Next on the agenda was setting up a Labour Party stall in Stratford High Street outside the main shopping centre.

Picture is of our Gerry (backdrop is the historic Old Town Hall see him standing next to West Ham MP Lyn Brown) who is a retired T&G union activist who used to work in a local power plant. Gerry is a keen member of his Tenants Association and the West Ham CLP Disability officer. He has been an active member of the Labour Party for “over 50 years”. He sees an important part of his role as a member in making sure that in any Labour Party meeting he attends that its Chair is up to the job of running the meeting. While he puts down his long life to starting each day with a mug of tea topped up with a bit of whiskey. He points out that “if it was good enough for my old Duchess” who lived well into her late 80’s - it is good enough for him.

There was a good response from shoppers. A couple of doughnuts who think they are making serious political points by muttering expletives under their breath while walking quickly pass. We picked up some new members and lots of case work for Lyn and the Councillors while also giving passerby’s  directions to here and there and advice on what buses to get. The Labour Mayor of Newham, Robin Wales, also turned up which I hope to post a picture of us all when I get it.

Senior Councillor Helal Abbas from Tower Hamlets Council stopped by with his family while out shopping to show support and say hello.

I offered a Labour Party balloon to a mum who was with a wide eyed toddler who was eagerly holding her hand out. But her mum very politely refused saying “I am sorry but we do not agree with the Labour Party” To which I backed off and said “fair enough”. The toddler didn’t seem to agree and was visually and vocally unimpressed with whatever political correctness lay behind her Mum’s response. I reckon we will have a future Labour voter there.

One interesting exchange I overheard was one young woman speaking to another. Referring to Lyn Brown, she said to her friend “that’s our MP over there”. Her friend responded with “What? Why she here”. The reply was “Oh, her and Labour are always here”. To which I took some comfort from since it shows that we are recognised as being continually active as a Labour Party in West Ham and not just when there are elections.

West Ham May Day Stall

Today we kicked off the strategy agreed at last Thursday Campaign meeting with a Labour Party May Day stall in Stratford High Street just outside the shopping centre. Lots of red Labour Party balloons for the kids and various leaflets for the parents.

While I don’t think that street stalls are any real substitute for structured political canvassing they are important in promoting the Party in “Main Street”. They are also usually fun events and the chance to catch up on important issues with fellow activists such as the latest gossip and rumour mongering.

Actually I have some of my most interesting conversations with local residents at street stalls. Let’s face it - most contact we have with ordinary people is about voter identification. This also often means that we knock on peoples' doors right in the middle of something exciting on “East Enders” or phone them up as they are about to serve dinner. On a stall people can choose to stop and talk to you about things they think are important.

An off duty nurse from a “life long Labour supporting family” gave me a lengthy ear bashing about how angry the splits and disunity in the Government was making her. She was also annoyed that the local Labour Council and government had done lots of good things but they were not getting this message out to people. At the end of it she thanked me politely for listening and letting her get things off her chest. I hardly said a thing (much to the surprise no doubt of those who know me).

Just listening is something that we “politicos” are not very good at and we should do more of it. Very few people actually want to talk about the 'Today Programme' “big issues of the day” which we obsess about. I had one chap last week stop me outside the Party rooms who also told me at length how furious he was with the press and media for calling offenders who commit street robbery as “muggers” which he thought devalued and trivialised the offence. I actually agree with him but was not able to get a word in. Finally, he thanked me and went away apparently relatively happy as well.

Perhaps there is a lesson here – that in conversation the less you say the more happy people are? Or maybe it is just me?

(Picture of Lyn Brown MP and other West Ham activists)

UPDATE: Hazel and the importance of Labour Party stalls - amongst other things