I've been laid low with a nasty bug for two days but thankfully I'm better now. My son was quite ill starting Tuesday morning and that continued until late Wednesday afternoon. Then both my wife and I came down with it in the early hours of Thusday morning. I had another canvassing session scheduled with our MP which had to be cancelled and overall lost two days from the campaign trail.
But now I'm okay and we've delivered the first batch of our second leaflets today. The initial reaction when field testing these leaflets has been very favourable. Now we've got to spread that message between now and Wednesday evening. The people of Claydon & Barham Ward deserve better! The full story will be revealed on my next posting.
Meanwhile, here's an amusing ditty from Youtube which sums up the AV system. If you want the supporters of extreme parties and joke candidates -those who's votes don't presently determine the outcome at Westminster - to have a bearing on the outcome, then you'll support AV. If not, you'll vote NO on Thursday. The choice is your's - but first, enjoy this song.......
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
LESS THAN 10 DAYS TO GO NOW!
It seems only a blink of an eye ago that it was St Patrick's Day and still seven weeks to go to the election. Now we are in the last ten days - where has the time gone? Virtually every house has now received my first leaflet with the last few to be delivered tomorrow morning. I've been hampered a bit these last few days by my son's reluctance (ie. obstinate refusal) to come leafleting with me in the hot weather so I've been restricted to the late afternoon and early evening after my wife has got home from work. Now with the return to school on Wednesday I'll have the freedom to get out more.
However I've now convinced myself that the best time to deliver is when everyone is returning from work or have had their suppers. I imagine a family sitting in front of their TV when they hear the rattle of the letterbox. One of them retrieves our leaflet and then the family take turns to read it and then together discuss its merit before resolving to vote Conservative. Perhaps just in my dreams?
When knocking on doors it has surprised (and depressed) me how many people seem proud to tell us that they don't bother to vote. One woman said "I've never voted since I was 18 and now I'm 34 and not going to start". Others are very coy about their voting intentions. What makes it worthwhile is being greeted on a doorstep with "Good luck! You've got our vote" whilst being given a smile and the thumbs up. It does happen!
As well as the leafleting and canvassing I've actually spent a considerable amount of time working on my second leaflet for final week distribution. The concept for this second leaflet has been in my mind now for over two years, ever since my wife responded back in 2009 with "Everyone should be made aware of that" after I had made her aware of "it". But what is this "It"? Well, I'm obviously hoping it will give me the edge but I'll wait to reveal what's missing in a few days time! Suffice to say that working with the basic concept has seen the leaflet go through about 10 draft stages trying to pitch the wording just right. I'm very excited about it! I suppose its the accountant in me that likes presenting people with facts and data.
However I've now convinced myself that the best time to deliver is when everyone is returning from work or have had their suppers. I imagine a family sitting in front of their TV when they hear the rattle of the letterbox. One of them retrieves our leaflet and then the family take turns to read it and then together discuss its merit before resolving to vote Conservative. Perhaps just in my dreams?
When knocking on doors it has surprised (and depressed) me how many people seem proud to tell us that they don't bother to vote. One woman said "I've never voted since I was 18 and now I'm 34 and not going to start". Others are very coy about their voting intentions. What makes it worthwhile is being greeted on a doorstep with "Good luck! You've got our vote" whilst being given a smile and the thumbs up. It does happen!
As well as the leafleting and canvassing I've actually spent a considerable amount of time working on my second leaflet for final week distribution. The concept for this second leaflet has been in my mind now for over two years, ever since my wife responded back in 2009 with "Everyone should be made aware of that" after I had made her aware of "it". But what is this "It"? Well, I'm obviously hoping it will give me the edge but I'll wait to reveal what's missing in a few days time! Suffice to say that working with the basic concept has seen the leaflet go through about 10 draft stages trying to pitch the wording just right. I'm very excited about it! I suppose its the accountant in me that likes presenting people with facts and data.
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
WHAT GLORIOUS WEATHER FOR POUNDING THE PAVEMENTS
I can't believe how the wonderful the weather has been over these last few days. Given how thin my hair is on top, I should really be wearing a hat when out delivering the leaflets. Normally I'd wear a baseball cap if I was out in the midday sun on holiday but I don't want to have a "William Hague Moment" on the streets of the Claydon & Barham Ward. And introducing myself as the Conservative candidate then doing a Benny Hill salute would hardly be a vote winner, would it?!?
Today I had to take my son up to Debenham Leisure Centre as he was booked on a four hour badminton course but having dropped him off, I was able to get away for a couple of hours and deliver leaflets in the peaceful village of Hemingstone. It was just like a perfect midsummer's day and it was a delight to walk around the village. I'm always a bit wary of dogs when out in the more rural parts of the ward but today there were no problems.
Later, as a family, we delivered in Claydon village. Just as we were finishing, my wife waved to a passing car. I'd been deep in thought and hadn't noticed who it was - but my wife recognised the car as belonging to my LibDem opponent. Glorious driving weather too!
Today I had to take my son up to Debenham Leisure Centre as he was booked on a four hour badminton course but having dropped him off, I was able to get away for a couple of hours and deliver leaflets in the peaceful village of Hemingstone. It was just like a perfect midsummer's day and it was a delight to walk around the village. I'm always a bit wary of dogs when out in the more rural parts of the ward but today there were no problems.
Later, as a family, we delivered in Claydon village. Just as we were finishing, my wife waved to a passing car. I'd been deep in thought and hadn't noticed who it was - but my wife recognised the car as belonging to my LibDem opponent. Glorious driving weather too!
Saturday, 16 April 2011
CANVASSING IN HENLEY VILLAGE
We've just got back indoors after a great afternoon spent canvassing for the District elections. The two Conservative candidates (Linda and I) were joined by our local MP Dr Dan Poulter, Dr Poulter's mother, our local Conservative Association President Steve Britt (who is Linda's husband) and the Bramford & Blakenham candidate, Kevin Welsby. Taking control of the clipboard on which to record all the many positive responses to our canvas was my ten year old son, Andrew, assisted and supervised by his mother. Yes, we were certainly out in force in Henley.
Here are some of our group outside the Henley Community Centre.
(from left to right are John Whitehead, Dr Dan Poulter MP, Linda Britt and Steve Britt)
photo by Andrew Whitehead
To see the relish with which our young and dynamic MP "Dr Dan" approaches the opportunity to knock on doors and engage with the local electorate is very inspirational. With six of us knocking on doors we were able to cover a large part of the village over the course of the afternoon. I was surprised how many people were at home and overall the response was most encouraging.
We were also canvassing for a NO vote in the AV Referendum and had some new literature on this theme to hand out along with our election leaflets. I was very pleased to see this literature as only the evening before, the LibDems had leafleted my house with a handout in favour of a change to this alternative system. I was encouraged to find that the people we met over the course of the afternoon had little enthusiasm for any change to the voting system.
Later in the afternoon we travelled over to Bramford to help Kevin canvas part of his ward. As it is the first time that both Kevin and I have stood in the District elections I think the mutual support is most helpful.
Although the election is not until May 5th we are very conscious that many people now have postal votes and therefore we need to reach these people well before the election date. The next task is to reach out to the known Conservatives with postal votes to encourage them to get those votes submitted. That, along with much more leafleting and canvassing, suggests that the next week will be very hectic.
Here are some of our group outside the Henley Community Centre.
(from left to right are John Whitehead, Dr Dan Poulter MP, Linda Britt and Steve Britt)
photo by Andrew Whitehead
To see the relish with which our young and dynamic MP "Dr Dan" approaches the opportunity to knock on doors and engage with the local electorate is very inspirational. With six of us knocking on doors we were able to cover a large part of the village over the course of the afternoon. I was surprised how many people were at home and overall the response was most encouraging.
We were also canvassing for a NO vote in the AV Referendum and had some new literature on this theme to hand out along with our election leaflets. I was very pleased to see this literature as only the evening before, the LibDems had leafleted my house with a handout in favour of a change to this alternative system. I was encouraged to find that the people we met over the course of the afternoon had little enthusiasm for any change to the voting system.
Later in the afternoon we travelled over to Bramford to help Kevin canvas part of his ward. As it is the first time that both Kevin and I have stood in the District elections I think the mutual support is most helpful.
Although the election is not until May 5th we are very conscious that many people now have postal votes and therefore we need to reach these people well before the election date. The next task is to reach out to the known Conservatives with postal votes to encourage them to get those votes submitted. That, along with much more leafleting and canvassing, suggests that the next week will be very hectic.
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
HOURS OF WALKING AHEAD
I picked up my election leaflets from the printers yesterday lunchtime. Now comes the task of getting them to every letterbox in the election ward. As with my previous County Council campaign, I've allocated every road to a particular "Round" and for this election there are thirteen rounds. I hope that's not an unlucky number - better make the last one 12A! The great news is that this District Ward is roughly half the size of the County Division so delivering the leaflets should be a lot easier this time round. I fact last time, it took virtually all my time just to get the leaflets delivered, leaving little time to actually knock on doors. For this election I should have time to both do the leafleting and the canvassing within a three week period.
So with 22 days to go, I've got my rounds organised and I've got a timetable planned to cover both leafleting and canvassing. The leaflets are all now batched up into their rounds ready to go:-
It is readily apparent from the photo that not all rounds are equal. I hope that doesn't offend any socialists reading this!
At some stage during the campaign my local MP is scheduled to come out to canvas with me. He's actually returning a favour, as I did a lot of legwork for him locally in the General Election 2010. But notwithstanding that, I'm really very chuffed that he's prepared to help me - and bring others along with him. I'm keeping the date 'secret' for now but intend to have pictures for the blog in due course, after the event.
So anyway, I must stop blogging now and get out pounding those pavements.
(Here's the front cover, being one eighth of the total leaflet, showing also my running mate, Linda)
So with 22 days to go, I've got my rounds organised and I've got a timetable planned to cover both leafleting and canvassing. The leaflets are all now batched up into their rounds ready to go:-
It is readily apparent from the photo that not all rounds are equal. I hope that doesn't offend any socialists reading this!
At some stage during the campaign my local MP is scheduled to come out to canvas with me. He's actually returning a favour, as I did a lot of legwork for him locally in the General Election 2010. But notwithstanding that, I'm really very chuffed that he's prepared to help me - and bring others along with him. I'm keeping the date 'secret' for now but intend to have pictures for the blog in due course, after the event.
So anyway, I must stop blogging now and get out pounding those pavements.
(Here's the front cover, being one eighth of the total leaflet, showing also my running mate, Linda)
Monday, 4 April 2011
HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE CAMPAIGN
Today, Monday 4th April 2011, the nominations closed for the Mid Suffolk District Council elections being held on Thursday 5th May. I'm standing as one of the two Conservative Party candidates in the Claydon & Barham Ward. There are two seats in this ward and when nominations closed at midday there were eight validated candidates standing. As well as myself and Linda Britt for the Conservatives, there are two LibDem candidates (who are our present councillors), two Labour Party candidates as well a Green Party candidate and an independent Suffolk Together candidate.
With eight candidates contesting two seats it should be an exciting election campaign. There will be a variety of viewpoints on offer and democracy should be the winner. Over the next four and a half weeks I hope you'll return to my blog for regular updates on the campaign.
With eight candidates contesting two seats it should be an exciting election campaign. There will be a variety of viewpoints on offer and democracy should be the winner. Over the next four and a half weeks I hope you'll return to my blog for regular updates on the campaign.
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