Election Day The First
We're in play. Back from the school run with the dogs. The postman has snuck in while the coast is clear and popped the Lib Dems' second election address instalment and also my postal vote package through the door.
The Lib Dem candidate is a terrible liar. His standards are double. He is reliably maverick. And not a little snide. But that three eared picture has not made a reappearance.
Here he lies : "There's just a handful of votes in it".
This is just above the usual barmy bar chart. It shows 39:35:12 (percent). The real figures are 18:4:3 (thousand) or thereabouts. He would have to have a huge hand to hold 10,000 or more votes!
Hopefully this blatant lie will not fool the Tories. They will revert to type for the General and stop propping up the Lib Dems as they do in local elections. And who knows, perhaps it will stir some reluctant voters into action, and appeal to the personal loyalty of Tony Lloyd's constituents in the anti-war asian communities. They will not want to lose him.
******
Yesterday evening I did some canvasing in the terraced 'Dukeries' at the heart of Whalley Range ward. Where the main asian groceries and halal butchers are for this part of Manchester. The name recognition is phenomenal. There is not a single Lib Dem poster up. A few of ours. Voters here are coming back to Labour. Not all of them. But there is movement.
There are some people who do not even realise they don't have Labour councillors any more. They cannot have had a problem needing help just yet. Three of the four Labour candidates they have rejected in 2003 and 2004 are actually involved in the work tonight. The fourth is organising in another ward. One of them is Chair of the Resident's Association for this patch. Still the one doing the work round here. Most residents have not seen a Lib Dem councillor since they were elected. They are clearly not working the patch.
Tony Lloyd's four-out-of-four as rebel teller on all the anti war votes reflects the views of most local people. But Aftab, who is working alternative avenues to me, tells us later that there is a fear of attacks on Iran, then Syria, then incredibly Pakistan in some households.
I have yet to get a reply to my request for policy clarification from the party leaders on this issue.
In contrast to this I spoke with a West African household. They think people round here, particularly the muslims, have been confused. It is clearly in their interest to vote Labour they think. The mother has had regular contact with Tony Lloyd through work and also with ex-Councillor Nilofar. Her discussion with N has been along the lines that any government would have done the same thing. She's OK with that she says. I'm not particularly, but it's three firm votes.
A few streets away I see a family that Tony Lloyd and I helped solve a long running farce with Croydon (Immigration and Nationality Directorate) back in 2002 and 2003. Though we got the result it was no great win really. We were Labour, but so now was the Michael Howard mangled bureacracy they were tangling with.
I'm delighted they are firmly back with us. The greatest issue is about local primary schools not Iraq. The older child is at school with Patrick. I tell mum about the superb OFSTED last time. Also that what I like about the school is the way the children smile as they go in and they're still smiling on the way home. I make a note that she would be an excellent school governor. Perhaps a community activist.
******
Back to this morning. I ignore the Lib Dem man's guarantees. I don't worry that I haven't received Election Addresses from National Front, UKIP or Tories. The UKIP man is standing in eight different constituencies. If he wins several (!) he'll have to let all but one down gently.
I have read the Socialist Labour (Arthur Scargill) one, and 'Damo' O'Connor's 'Independent Progressive Labour' (Benefit Criminal) effort. And Tony Lloyd's first arrived yesterday too. Three "Labour" candidates in one post. Eight candidates in all. This is probably far better for us than just three or four.
I make my mark and get the declaration of identity signed by neighbour Sue. She agrees that subject to family negotiations she will display a Tony Lloyd poster. Brooky down the street stopped me to ask for one too this morning.
Remembering the angst of last year, when I worried about whether I'd posted the damn thing for days, I walk straight to the nearest post box. The vote is cast.
I hope that Tony Lloyd's second leaflet and his targeted letters to asian and first time voters have arrived already or will hit the mats in the morning. The election clock is ticking.
The Lib Dem candidate is a terrible liar. His standards are double. He is reliably maverick. And not a little snide. But that three eared picture has not made a reappearance.
Here he lies : "There's just a handful of votes in it".
This is just above the usual barmy bar chart. It shows 39:35:12 (percent). The real figures are 18:4:3 (thousand) or thereabouts. He would have to have a huge hand to hold 10,000 or more votes!
Hopefully this blatant lie will not fool the Tories. They will revert to type for the General and stop propping up the Lib Dems as they do in local elections. And who knows, perhaps it will stir some reluctant voters into action, and appeal to the personal loyalty of Tony Lloyd's constituents in the anti-war asian communities. They will not want to lose him.
******
Yesterday evening I did some canvasing in the terraced 'Dukeries' at the heart of Whalley Range ward. Where the main asian groceries and halal butchers are for this part of Manchester. The name recognition is phenomenal. There is not a single Lib Dem poster up. A few of ours. Voters here are coming back to Labour. Not all of them. But there is movement.
There are some people who do not even realise they don't have Labour councillors any more. They cannot have had a problem needing help just yet. Three of the four Labour candidates they have rejected in 2003 and 2004 are actually involved in the work tonight. The fourth is organising in another ward. One of them is Chair of the Resident's Association for this patch. Still the one doing the work round here. Most residents have not seen a Lib Dem councillor since they were elected. They are clearly not working the patch.
Tony Lloyd's four-out-of-four as rebel teller on all the anti war votes reflects the views of most local people. But Aftab, who is working alternative avenues to me, tells us later that there is a fear of attacks on Iran, then Syria, then incredibly Pakistan in some households.
I have yet to get a reply to my request for policy clarification from the party leaders on this issue.
In contrast to this I spoke with a West African household. They think people round here, particularly the muslims, have been confused. It is clearly in their interest to vote Labour they think. The mother has had regular contact with Tony Lloyd through work and also with ex-Councillor Nilofar. Her discussion with N has been along the lines that any government would have done the same thing. She's OK with that she says. I'm not particularly, but it's three firm votes.
A few streets away I see a family that Tony Lloyd and I helped solve a long running farce with Croydon (Immigration and Nationality Directorate) back in 2002 and 2003. Though we got the result it was no great win really. We were Labour, but so now was the Michael Howard mangled bureacracy they were tangling with.
I'm delighted they are firmly back with us. The greatest issue is about local primary schools not Iraq. The older child is at school with Patrick. I tell mum about the superb OFSTED last time. Also that what I like about the school is the way the children smile as they go in and they're still smiling on the way home. I make a note that she would be an excellent school governor. Perhaps a community activist.
******
Back to this morning. I ignore the Lib Dem man's guarantees. I don't worry that I haven't received Election Addresses from National Front, UKIP or Tories. The UKIP man is standing in eight different constituencies. If he wins several (!) he'll have to let all but one down gently.
I have read the Socialist Labour (Arthur Scargill) one, and 'Damo' O'Connor's 'Independent Progressive Labour' (Benefit Criminal) effort. And Tony Lloyd's first arrived yesterday too. Three "Labour" candidates in one post. Eight candidates in all. This is probably far better for us than just three or four.
I make my mark and get the declaration of identity signed by neighbour Sue. She agrees that subject to family negotiations she will display a Tony Lloyd poster. Brooky down the street stopped me to ask for one too this morning.
Remembering the angst of last year, when I worried about whether I'd posted the damn thing for days, I walk straight to the nearest post box. The vote is cast.
I hope that Tony Lloyd's second leaflet and his targeted letters to asian and first time voters have arrived already or will hit the mats in the morning. The election clock is ticking.
posted by Chris Paul at 10:22 AM
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