Okay, it’s true I enjoy elections! I get a buzz, enjoy the friendships made and love the campaign. Every election has a different vibe, atmosphere – much set by the tone and timing of the campaign and much set by the candidate & campaign manager. I started with Brent East and have a string of by-elections under my activist belt – Leicester South, Bromley and Chislehurst, Ealing Southall, Henley, Norwich North, Oldham East and Saddleworth, Croydon North, Eastleigh, Rochester and Strood, Witney, Richmond Park and now I will be helping Sleaford and North Hykeham.
I don’t pick and choose my elections – in many respects none of us do. They occur and time and travel permitting we go. But there is a small outstanding issue it seems to me. People make a judgement based on their perceptions. They sit and home and become a specialist results predictor – who will win and who will lose.
Now precisely because I don’t always know, and precisely because I like the campaign trail, tonight I will be phone canvassing voters in Sleaford and North Hykeham. I have made a donation and sent postage stamps to ensure every possible addressed letter is posted if it can’t be hand delivered. I have spoken to my mate Ed Fordham who is up there helping with the campaign, I am following Ross Pepper on Twitter (@RossDPepper). But I want to do something more and something real – I will be speaking to the voters and adding to their sum of knowledge for the Local Party there. It’s a small part and I will try and get 100 or more calls made.
Now everyone is buoyed up by Witney and Richmond Park, my understanding is that Sleaford and North Hykeham could be as encouraging for many of us if we pitch in now. For this reason and more, I will be logging into Connect and using the virtual phone bank every night this week and on polling day. Will you?
* Sam Webber is the interim PPC in Orpington. He was PPC for Bromley and Chislehurst in 2010 & 2015 and joined the party in 2004 following an internship with Rt Hon Sir Simon Hughes.
3 Comments
Thanks for this Sam, be like Sam
I did my bit today, and went from Cambridgeshire to deliver leaflets and letters, as I did in Witney and Richmond Park. It was a pleasure. I only saw 4 UKIPers delivering as well. I was just 4 times quicker than them, and our material is better. Met a couple of locals who were warm and welcoming. People’s hearts are with us, and they are starting to believe again.
If you can give Ross any help possible. One more day!
Good luck everyone. This election isn’t getting as much attention as Richmond Park, but every percentage point increase on our 2015 result is a strong message about our message.