The idea of knocking on strangers’ doors and asking them how to vote can be a bit daunting. Even those of us who are experienced at it can feel a bit nervous about doing it sometimes – but the good news is that as soon as you are out and you have knocked on a few doors, you really start to enjoy it.
Last night I headed out for my first big canvassing session with the fantastic Edinburgh West team.
Such an awesome response on the doors of Murrayfield in Edinburgh West for @Cajardine and @scotlibdems #LibDemFightback #GE17 pic.twitter.com/iybQ9vEBF9
— Alex Cole-Hamilton (@agcolehamilton) May 9, 2017
We were in an area of the constituency which is not part of Alex Cole-Hamilton’s Scottish Parliament seat. It was a beautiful evening, with warm sunshine and pink cherry blossom. It’s an area where we have in the past successfully persuaded people who support other parties to vote tactically for us. With the Tories surging in Scotland, would they still be willing to do so?
Actually, they were. They understood that the seat was very much between the Liberal Democrats and the SNP and greeted us very warmly. I was actually surprised that we were doing as well as we were. We were able to show any doubters that in real ballot boxes last Friday in the Council elections we were in a winning position – and, of course, Alex’s victory last year showed that we could beat the SNP locally.
There was also spontaneous admiration for our candidate Christine Jardine (people had heard her on the radio and liked her), Willie Rennie and Alex Cole-Hamilton.
If you have never been canvassing before, heading out in a big team is a great way to start. Why not head over to your nearest held or target seat this week and try it out?
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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3 Comments
Why ask for a tactical vote? Why not seek to persuade them to vote lib dem because of your policies?
‘Why ask for a tactical vote?’
Because that is the nature of FPTP.
and a word to all Newby LibDems,
going out campaigning is a great way to get to know LibDem politicians and top cadres personally:
*) the new MP-candidate;
*) sitting MP’s coming in to help (OK, they are somewhat thin on the ground this time; but that is just te point… đ
*) top cadres from the local constituency party branch (and neighbouring branches);
and if you are really Lucky, a LDV editor.
I will never forget:
*) I became D66 member of D66 one Wednesday; people told me there was a high street foldering planned for next Saturday;
*) I turn up, to be welcomed by our party leader, an MP and a famous writer of childrens books; this left me gobsmacked;
*) and i get to walk beside the man on the top of my local party list.
*) and during the pint in the pub afterwards, I get into a conversation about the EEC with our Foreign Affairs MP…
That sure motivated me to remain an active member!