We think Preseli Pembs is a challenge - but achievable. Going to be putting in a lot of hard work between now and May 7th. The seasoned campaigners that have come up here for our first two doorstep sessions have been surprised by the contrast between the folks they are meeting up here in north Pembs and what they have been accustomed to in the south Pembs strongholds of Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock etc. Pleasantly surprised. They say that people here seem more willing to chat about issues and politics, more obviously interested in who Paul, our Labour candidate, is and what he has done, what makes him tick, and that there is obviously a big community spirit here. I'd go along with that - it's been a good experience so far.letsskiptotheleft wrote:@RR, Electoral Calculus still have the seats local to you still as Labour gains, wishful thinking or do you tend to agree?
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Rather dauntingly - Dai, our campaign organiser - thinks north Pembs might make all the difference to the outcome. He could be right. As I said to him - so, no pressure then.
Why we think that is partly because of the willingness of people to talk and think about issues ... there's debate to be had and views that might shift ... but also because this area really has been pretty forgotten previously because we are so far away from the main towns and centres where most things are based and most canvassing has happened. As an example - I had a lovely chat with a local lady yesterday - 81 years old - who was born and has lived in the house she was standing on the doorstep of till the present day - and she told me that she had never, ever, had anyone from any political party knock on her door and introduce themselves before. Paul and his agent are surprised by how many quite lengthy and interesting conversations they've had.
We discovered last time that the parents of Stephen Crabb, the current Tory incumbent, live in the village. One of their neighbours told us just after one of our group had delivered a leaflet to his dad (he didn't know he was that at the time.) This might be why the leaflet in question was featured in the Telegraph last week pointing it it had Paul's name spelled wrongly. Not me guv - the person responsible for this howler arrived with said leaflets and announced their proof reading error with openness and no little embarrassment. We had a laugh about it - and decided we'd deliver them anyway - until there is a new batch with the correct spelling. After all - it's not like one of the team, or the candidate, said something horribly homophobic or racist .... !
Got to get my thinking cap on about whether I can muster the energy and contacts to organise a hustings up here - probably another first.
