Thursday, July 19, 2007

Ealing Southall – the Welsh Connection


Helped out yesterday in Ealing Southall by-election. The local party HQ in Ruskin Hall appears to be shared with the local Communication Workers Union (CWU). So lots of postal strike posters. Inside the hall I noticed on a whiteboard a message saying that 30 canvassers and a mini-bus was expected from Wales on Thursday. It seems like everyone is rallying around. Maggie Cousins from London Regional Board sent us off (via 207 bus) to deliver "targeted messages" to Walpole Ward, from former leader of Ealing Council, Hilary Benn MP praising Virendra Sharma, the Labour Candidate.

It started raining as we got off the bus (not a good start) but soon cleared up and was warm and sunny for the rest of the day. Ended up with a tan. Photo top right is of Dan and Paul from National Labour HQ, John W from West Ham and Robert from South London. By coincidence Dan is a tenant on the estate I manage. The ward was crawling with opposition canvassers, mostly Tory.

Later we went to other temporary Party rooms near the clock tower. Picture below is of John W “power napping” during a well earned tea break.

We did another delivery this time with David Collins (see below left). Who turned out to be a researcher for Ann Jones who is my Mum’s Welsh Assembly Member. Interesting talking about Denbigh politics while pounding the streets of West London.


Local residents have had so many leaflets put through their letter boxes (there are I think 12 candidates?) that for the first time I saw a number of notices on door telling us “no more”.

Joined up with another John from West Ham (below - there were 3 of us West Ham Johns) and Dora Dixon-Flye (London Regional Labour Party Board).

Finished off with delivering huge bright “eve of poll” leaflets so didn’t have a chance of door knocking and really talking to people. However, for once we were given a script for leaflet distribution and encouraged to stop and talk to voters.

If you can help out today - you will be very welcome (and busy). You don't have to be Welsh!

Overall, I thought that the reaction was very positive for Labour. However, I am now always cautious when you have factions playing community politics.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It was a good result and a good day for Labour activists. The sun never seemed to stop shinning. I spent most of the day going round with Rachael Voller my hard-working friend from London region. I enjoyed meeting up with so many Labour friends from right across London - some I hadn't seen for quite a while! Dora

John Gray said...

Hi Dora
Yes a good day – after all we have it on good authority that "The sun shines on the righteous (as well as the wicked… – which explains why the sun did not go in every time I saw a Tory canvasser)"

Welsh Spin said...

Hi Jon,

Good to see you on Wednesday Comrade.

It's Ann Jones AM (no 'e'). Her post election website is
here. It's taken a bit longer to get up and running than i'd hoped, but i'll be putting the surgery info for autumn up tomorrow, along with a link to your goodself.

Welsh Spin said...

Sorry, that should have been "JoHn" ...

John Gray said...

no probs - Sorry about the "e" but please don't confuse me with that poor deluded London UNISON NEC soul called jon.