By Alec Price, Rochester and Strood Labour Party
This is a brief report of my experience of the mycampaignmap and canvassing in Battersea in South London. Labour launched the election campaign in Battersea – a seat won by a Corbyn supporting Labour candidate from the Tories in 2017. The area is mixed, with areas of deprivation alongside areas of gentrified wealth. I think there is potential for Labour supporters to use the website to get actively involved in a local marginal.
How does the website work?
Simply type in your post code on the website and you will be directed to campaign events – times, locations and dates – near you. Not all events are listed, just those that the website thinks activists are best placed to go to. Politically, we may disagree with some of the recommendations on the website, but the point is that this is where the activists are being directed to, and so it presents a good opportunity to meet and network with other party members.
What happens when you turn up?
The local CLP divide the activists into teams and give them a route to knock. The list you get depends on who the CLP think you should be knocking up. In my case it was not every door, but seemed to be previous Labour voters and people identified as potential Labour supporters. There may be arguments as to whether is this the right people to knock on or not, but it’s out of your control as someone who turns up on the day.
How many people are turning up?
In my experience around 20 turned up 11am midweek in Battersea, South London. The area we were in was heavily working class, in tower blocks. This meant 4 teams – double the number they were expecting. Some were local CLP, but most were out of area – essentially having used the mycampaignmap.com to get there. It meant a non-CLP member was leading our team – i.e. doing the board. I was put in a team of 4. One a student from nearby Deptford and two striking teachers (who were on the picket line at 8am) who were also South-London based.
What do the teams do?
Walking from tower block to tower block meant we had time to discuss politics as we walked. It was good to get information on how other areas were going, to network and to share experiences. One of the teachers played a Mackenzie’s friend roll in the poll tax. If you put ideas out there you can quite easily find out who shares or is open to the ideas of genuine socialism.
Most activists were keen but cautious as to how Labour would do. They would happily take Labour the largest party in a hung parliament.
On the doors, most people you will find are out during the day, but in the area where we were working, there were literally tower blocks of Labour voters. Most are just happy to say ‘yes always voting Labour’ and want to get on with their life. Some want to know the date to vote.
Reaction from voters
Of those who had questions, one wanted Labour to be more socialist. She pointed at the block opposite which she claimed was council-owned and lived in by “local people” (prompting one of the teachers to fear they were about to get hit with an immigration rant), but the tenants had been told to move due to asbestos, and then the flats became owned by yuppies and are now worth half a million.
Another had issues on Brexit. She voted remain, but just wanted it over and wasn’t impressed with the idea promoted by the local candidate’s leaflet and one of the teacher’s promotion of a second referendum. No-one mentioned the local candidate, because their vote was for “Labour”, as if the candidate was immaterial.
The NHS was the main issue raised
Brexit was not raised at all by anyone else and neither was the issue of “Jeremy Corbyn” or “anti-Semitism”. Of all people we met on the doors or in passing 95% were voting Labour and some with real enthusiasm.
The issue that came up the most often was the NHS, followed by housing.
A key plank of Labours marginal seats being retained is the Labour vote turning out – and the signs from this session show that they are willing to do so. As the election campaign continues this is likely to snowball as voters see the policies of the manifesto and witness the establishment attempt to do their utmost to stop Corbyn’s Labour at all costs.
Another key to winning will be the enthusiasm and activity of Labour’s activists to get the message out.
The economic, social and environmental policies will win the working class to our side. With a ground swell of organised support we will be looking at scenes similar to the opening chapter of the novel, A Very British Coup, with its Labour majority and sweating establishment characters. Without it we will have a continuation of the deadlock we suffered prior to this election.
November 26th 2019
