General Election – Campaign News
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SocialistPunk wrote:YMS and Steve,I knew what the signatures were for I just wasn't aware it was SPGB policy to hassle people by knocking on their doors and asking for their support etc.Surely it must be known that most people do not respond too favourably to strangers knocking on doors, presumably early evening, when the family are most likely to be trying to unwind from the stresses of the day? What about friends and family members signing the election form?
Most of the signatures in the two Brighton constituencies were collected door to door except for a few sympathisers where appointments to call had been pre-arranged. All the 'cold calls' were made during daylight hours at the weekend. We encountered no hostility whatever and only a few people declined to sign. Hence in Brighton Kemptown, for example, the majority of the signatures (
were collected in less than an hour and a half. This method is by far the most effective and efficient way of collecting the required signatures as trying to arrange a suitable time to call on known contacts as well as friends and family members can be extremely time-consuming.The other point to bear in mind is that only those people whose names appear on the electoral register in the constituency where the candidate is standing are eligible to sign. To ensure that was the case, we had to hand a hard copy of the electoral register when calling to ensure that each person signing was indeed on the register; someone signing who is not registered can result in the entire nomination paper being rejected.Just a bit surprised to hear that four or five branch members can't muster ten signatures from family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues, social groups etc."Needs must when the devil drives"
SP,it's better, IMNSHO, to go knocking on doors, as it's a way of raising awareness that there is a campaign going on,. In London it's difficult to get the right number of people in the same constituency. And, to be frank, I'd rather not put friends on the spot and ask them (and risk perfectly reaonable refusal).
ALB wrote:After confirming that we are standing 10 candidates, we have been invited to appear on BBC2's Daily Politics Show again:The date has now been fixed as Friday 17 April between 12.00 and 13.00. Our representative is going to be Howard Pilott, our candidate for Brighton Pavilion.
Quote:I can confirm 17th April. The programme goes out live between 12.00-13.00 – Howard's interview is likely to
take place during the second half of the programme (I'll be able to confirm this
closer to the date of the interview). The interview will be live, and will be with
either Jo Coburn or Andrew Neil – both are presenting throughout the election
period.Young Master Smeet wrote:SP,it's better, IMNSHO, to go knocking on doors, as it's a way of raising awareness that there is a campaign going on,. In London it's difficult to get the right number of people in the same constituency. And, to be frank, I'd rather not put friends on the spot and ask them (and risk perfectly reaonable refusal).YMSI said "Needs must when the devil rides". In case you don't know, it means if you've got no other choice, you gotta do what it takes.This raises an raise an interesting point about promotion tactics. If knocking on doors is a way of raising awareness, as you say, then why doesn't the SPGB use that as a regular tactic. As far as I can tell, knocking on doors during an election time falls into the old cliche that everybody knows about politicians and elections, "Typical of politicians, they're only interested in you when they want your vote."Maybe the SPGB should consider knocking on doors as a way of getting the message out?And if friends won't sign, get some better friends.
SocialistPunk wrote:And if friends won't sign, get some better friends.That's a pretty scummy opinion.
Young Master Smeet wrote:SocialistPunk wrote:And if friends won't sign, get some better friends.That's a pretty scummy opinion.
Not really. Steve has asked me to sign his nomination paper, I'm an ex-Party member socialist and a very good friend of his, so that's obvious. However I've asked my partner to sign, despite her lack of interest in politics she is willing to sign also. She is under no obligation to do so.If I was a Party member I would not hesitate to ask my friends to sign Steve's paper and I would expect them to do so, because they are friends who know my views and how important they are to me. Friends don't have to agree on evertything but they should be willing to help one another.
Friends are like the seasons,Ever constant never changing,With friends there are no arguments,No constant reappraising!!!
One of our candidates in Brighton as received over 600 emails on such matters as TTIP, NHS and Tax Evasion as a result of 38 Degrees activity. All have now been replied to, some more than once.And representatives of 'One Church' called on Howard Pilott at his home to shoot a question and answer video for their hustings to be held on 19 April, at which Howard will be present in person.http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/event/one-church-election-hustings-brighton-7pm Today four members attended to run an election stall in Folkestone, including the two local SPGB candidates Andy Thomas and Max Hess.The town was very busy, and the comrades were assisted by a nearby street trader nearby who, unprompted, announced their presence over his public address system.About 400 election leaflets were distributed around the town centre and several items of literature sold. The party got a good reception, in some instances quite enthusiastic.The weather was problematic, being very windy. Later it rained and the stall was packed up about 3pm.Picture here: http://www.meetup.com/The-Socialist-Party-of-Great-Britain/photos/26010673/
We were out in Oxford too today, basically testing spots for a regular stall for the rest of the campaign but, as in Folkestone, the weather wasn't on our side. All the same, 4 of us gave away leaflets at two different places, one in Oxford East in the morning, the other in Oxford West in the afternoon as well as investigating the pitch at Cowley Centre where TUSC hold a regular weekly stall. They seem to want to live off Bob Crow's reputation as both of the leaflets they were handing out carried his photo.Passing through the main street in the centre (Cornmarket) from our first pitch to the other we were surprised to come across some members of the EDL handing out leaflets for their planned protest next Saturday against "Muslim grooming gangs in Oxford" proclaiming "Contol immigration from Islamic countries for a start". Nobody was objecting, though there was a discreet police presence not too far away presumably in case they did. Instead of trying to kick their heads in we gave them a socialist leaflet. The only political discussion we had in Oxford West was with someone who said they were going to vote tacticaly LibDem to keep the Tories out. Work that one out if you can.Next stall is planned for Thursday 9 April at 5pm in the city centre.
gnome wrote:One of our candidates in Brighton as received over 600 emails on such matters as TTIP, NHS and Tax Evasion as a result of 38 Degrees activity. All have now been replied to, some more than once.That's great news. Standing at the election is proving worthwhile
Vin wrote:gnome wrote:One of our candidates in Brighton as received over 600 emails on such matters as TTIP, NHS and Tax Evasion as a result of 38 Degrees activity. All have now been replied to, some more than once.That's great news. Standing at the election is proving worthwhile
There was never any doubt in my mind…
gnome wrote:Vin wrote:gnome wrote:One of our candidates in Brighton as received over 600 emails on such matters as TTIP, NHS and Tax Evasion as a result of 38 Degrees activity. All have now been replied to, some more than once.That's great news. Standing at the election is proving worthwhile
There was never any doubt in my mind…
Our other candidate in Brighton has received over 300 emails, most of which have now had replies sent.
Hustings tomorrow night:Islington Tennants Association:Girdlestone Community Centre, Salisbury Walk , N19 5DX . The image and map on their website can help you find the building on the day: http://www. girdlestonecommunitycentre.co. uk/The publicised start time of the hustings will be 7pm.
Young Master Smeet wrote:Hustings tomorrow night:Islington Tennants Association:Girdlestone Community Centre, Salisbury Walk , N19 5DX . The image and map on their website can help you find the building on the day: http://www. girdlestonecommunitycentre.co. uk/The publicised start time of the hustings will be 7pm.This and all the other hustings to which we've been invited can be found in the events section of the website or on our Meetup group calendar page for April.http://www.meetup.com/The-Socialist-Party-of-Great-Britain/events/#4
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