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Post by East Anglian Lefty on Feb 1, 2017 20:28:34 GMT
rule one of canvassing is that it is about finding out who people are going to vote for so you can knock them up (or deliver suppressing or squeeze literature) I think the modern idea that canvassing is only about voter identification and not about persuasion is missing a lot of the potential of personal interaction... A one to one contact can be worth a dozen target letters but it does have to be the right person doing it, and there has to be a simple and powerful message that can be conveyed quickly. If a Party can get that message into enough heads in a community, it will spread of its own accord, and the leaflets, letters and Facebook adverts will reinforce it.. That's not really the modern idea at all. It's just what you tell first-time canvassers so they don't waste hours on a single voter. You need to get a voting intention, but that doesn't preclude having a meaningful conversation. In fact the latter makes the former significantly more reliable. |
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john07
Labour & Co-operative
Posts: 15,818 
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Post by john07 on Feb 2, 2017 22:55:36 GMT
I think the modern idea that canvassing is only about voter identification and not about persuasion is missing a lot of the potential of personal interaction... A one to one contact can be worth a dozen target letters but it does have to be the right person doing it, and there has to be a simple and powerful message that can be conveyed quickly. If a Party can get that message into enough heads in a community, it will spread of its own accord, and the leaflets, letters and Facebook adverts will reinforce it.. That's not really the modern idea at all. It's just what you tell first-time canvassers so they don't waste hours on a single voter. You need to get a voting intention, but that doesn't preclude having a meaningful conversation. In fact the latter makes the former significantly more reliable. I am not sure I ever convinced people to change their vote while canvassing. When I was elected for Cheylesmore, my two colleagues were of the 'talk to them and pursuade them' mentality. I simply went to knock on as many doors as possible and introduce myself. I was third of the three Labour candidates on the ballot paper but gained a lot more votes that the other two. This was partially because I probably knocked on three times the number of doors that either of them did. During the 1979 General Election, I was back in Coventry for a couple of days and went out canvassing for Audrey Wise. I was about to quit for the night and knocked on one last door and was invited in! As I suspected they were strong Conservatives and were probably trying to distract me. I spent a very pleasant hour being given glasses of wine and discussing political events. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2017 12:52:02 GMT
People do appreciate being "knocked up".
Even if they're unlikely to vote for you, it still helps if they've seen you - and makes them more likely to consider voting for you at a future election.
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neilm
Non-Aligned
Posts: 25,023
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Copeland
Feb 3, 2017 19:02:09 GMT
via mobile
Post by neilm on Feb 3, 2017 19:02:09 GMT
People do appreciate being "knocked up". Even if they're unlikely to vote for you, it still helps if they've seen you - and makes them more likely to consider voting for you at a future election. Why would you knock up people unlikely to vote for you? The whole point of knocking up is to get your vote out. |
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Post by greenchristian on Feb 3, 2017 22:30:18 GMT
People do appreciate being "knocked up". Even if they're unlikely to vote for you, it still helps if they've seen you - and makes them more likely to consider voting for you at a future election. Why would you knock up people unlikely to vote for you? The whole point of knocking up is to get your vote out. I think @conservativeestimate may be confusing canvassing (doorknocking pre-election day) with knocking up (doorknocking on election day). |
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right
Conservative
Posts: 18,875
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Post by right on Feb 11, 2017 18:06:06 GMT
I am not sure I ever convinced people to change their vote while canvassing. When I was elected for Cheylesmore, my two colleagues were of the 'talk to them and pursuade them' mentality. I simply went to knock on as many doors as possible and introduce myself. I was third of the three Labour candidates on the ballot paper but gained a lot more votes that the other two. This was partially because I probably knocked on three times the number of doors that either of them did. During the 1979 General Election, I was back in Coventry for a couple of days and went out canvassing for Audrey Wise. I was about to quit for the night and knocked on one last door and was invited in! As I suspected they were strong Conservatives and were probably trying to distract me. I spent a very pleasant hour being given glasses of wine and discussing political events. Me and a coach load of other activists from my CLP are off to Copeland to knock doors tomorrow so this isn't very encouraging 😂. I hope the 5 o clock start won't be in vain! That's almost twice the time from Huddersfield as it is from Huddersfield to Stoke! Why did you choose Copeland rather than Stoke? |
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The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 39,009
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Post by The Bishop on Feb 11, 2017 18:09:47 GMT
Stoke is within much easier reach of much of the country (ie the southern half) so better served by activist help already?
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Richard Allen
Banned
Four time loser in VUKPOTY finals
Posts: 19,052
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Post by Richard Allen on Feb 11, 2017 18:25:09 GMT
I am not sure I ever convinced people to change their vote while canvassing. When I was elected for Cheylesmore, my two colleagues were of the 'talk to them and pursuade them' mentality. I simply went to knock on as many doors as possible and introduce myself. I was third of the three Labour candidates on the ballot paper but gained a lot more votes that the other two. This was partially because I probably knocked on three times the number of doors that either of them did. During the 1979 General Election, I was back in Coventry for a couple of days and went out canvassing for Audrey Wise. I was about to quit for the night and knocked on one last door and was invited in! As I suspected they were strong Conservatives and were probably trying to distract me. I spent a very pleasant hour being given glasses of wine and discussing political events. Me and a coach load of other activists from my CLP are off to Copeland to knock doors tomorrow so this isn't very encouraging 😂. I hope the 5 o clock start won't be in vain! He didn't say that canvassing was in vain. |
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Sibboleth
Labour
'Sit on my finger, sing in my ear, O littleblood.'
Posts: 16,044
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Post by Sibboleth on Feb 11, 2017 18:29:42 GMT
Stoke is within much easier reach of much of the country (ie the southern half) so better served by activist help already? It's very easy to get to via public transport even; just a short trip from Crewe. |
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right
Conservative
Posts: 18,875
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Post by right on Feb 11, 2017 18:50:01 GMT
That's almost twice the time from Huddersfield as it is from Huddersfield to Stoke! Why did you choose Copeland rather than Stoke? Your guess as good as mine😂, high command want northern CLPs to go to Copeland and the southerners & midlanders to come up to Stoke! I wasn't part of the decision making process I can assure you! Bad luck! First time canvassing outside the home constituency? |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 19:41:40 GMT
Rule 1a of when an alternative party canvasses you is that you get awarded brownie points for how long you can keep the canvasser talking to you on the doorstep and not talking to anyone else. A favourite hobby, |
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right
Conservative
Posts: 18,875
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Post by right on Feb 11, 2017 19:54:58 GMT
Bad luck! First time canvassing outside the home constituency? Yes it is, thank you.]But I've just heard bad news, Copeland Labour Party just told the person organising the trip not to come in a coach as it would take up to much of their election expenses, they said instead to come in cars and as I cant drive one I can't now go! Before anyone asks I did try to ask others who were also planning on going but were either to poor/old/young to drive there and the handful that could had already promised their seats to others or did not fancy driving the distance. I have been disenfranchised! That's a shame, it's good to learn canvassing with an experienced group and byelections are fun. Some handy tips. First, never ever close a conversation with any voter - you will lose their vote if they don't stop the conversation. Second bring a watch so that you always wait at least ten minutes on a every doorstep when you don't get an immediate answer as this gives the frail and elderly a chance to get to the door. And lastly, always try really hard to persuade the die hard Conservative voters to your side as they are worth twice as much, one vote more for your side and one vote less for theirs. You are, of course, welcome. |
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Post by Pete Whitehead on Feb 11, 2017 20:38:08 GMT
In 1991 I was a student in Wolverhampton and there were three by-elections being held on the same day - in Hemsworth, Langbaurgh and Kincardine & Deeside. The Conservatives were defending the last two but our chairman determined that they would be too far to travel (correctly in the case of K&D but Langbaurgh was only about a 3 hour journey). He therefore told us that we would be going up to campaign in Hemsworth. I told him in fairly robust terms that I would not be and I'm pretty sure nobody did in the end. As it happens I was planning to go up to Stoke today and had a hotel booked for the night so I could do a full two days. Unfortunately I came down with a heavy cold yesterday and tramping the streets of Stoke didn't seem like the best way of getting rid of it quickly. I'd probably be going out on the piss about now (also had to forego a poker game last night) I'm pissed off.  Might see about going up next weekend but this one seemed like the best opportunity by far |
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Post by carlton43 on Feb 11, 2017 22:04:47 GMT
In 1991 I was a student in Wolverhampton and there were three by-elections being held on the same day - in Hemsworth, Langbaurgh and Kincardine & Deeside. The Conservatives were defending the last two but our chairman determined that they would be too far to travel (correctly in the case of K&D but Langbaurgh was only about a 3 hour journey). He therefore told us that we would be going up to campaign in Hemsworth. I told him in fairly robust terms that I would not be and I'm pretty sure nobody did in the end. As it happens I was planning to go up to Stoke today and had a hotel booked for the night so I could do a full two days. Unfortunately I came down with a heavy cold yesterday and tramping the streets of Stoke didn't seem like the best way of getting rid of it quickly. I'd probably be going out on the piss about now (also had to forego a poker game last night) I'm pissed off. Might see about going up next weekend but this one seemed like the best opportunity by far Tough luck Pete. Hope you are much better soonest. If you get to Stoke do let us know your reactions. And give us a prediction on election night as we wait for the results. |
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Post by Andrew_S on Feb 11, 2017 22:14:24 GMT
From what I've read I think the Tories expected to lose Langbaurgh by more than 1,975 votes and the result was slightly encouraging for them.
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Feb 11, 2017 22:16:01 GMT
From what I've read I think the Tories expected to lose Langbaurgh by more than 1,975 votes and the result was slightly encouraging for them. Langbaurgh was the last occasion on which there was a byelection constituency exit poll. I forget the figures but it was embarrassingly inaccurate, giving a Labour landslide. |
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The Bishop
Labour
Down With Factionalism!
Posts: 39,009
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Post by The Bishop on Feb 11, 2017 22:22:08 GMT
Depressingly obvious reason for that, of course.
(though, it must also be said, he later became a widely liked constituency MP and was genuinely mourned come his untimely death)
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 22:25:12 GMT
Depressingly obvious reason for that, of course. (though, it must also be said, he later became a widely liked constituency MP and was genuinely mourned come his untimely death) It would be an interesting seat for a by-election now. A friend of mine was the candidate in 2010. |
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john07
Labour & Co-operative
Posts: 15,818
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Post by john07 on Feb 11, 2017 22:29:39 GMT
Me and a coach load of other activists from my CLP are off to Copeland to knock doors tomorrow so this isn't very encouraging 😂. I hope the 5 o clock start won't be in vain! He didn't say that canvassing was in vain. Indeed. It is very useful but spending half an hour on each doorstep is certainly not cost effective. The purpose of canvassing is: 1. to identify potential support and then get the vote out on election day. 2. to show your face to the electorate. |
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Post by Robert Waller on Feb 12, 2017 0:29:10 GMT
Yes it is, thank you.]But I've just heard bad news, Copeland Labour Party just told the person organising the trip not to come in a coach as it would take up to much of their election expenses, they said instead to come in cars and as I cant drive one I can't now go! Before anyone asks I did try to ask others who were also planning on going but were either to poor/old/young to drive there and the handful that could had already promised their seats to others or did not fancy driving the distance. I have been disenfranchised! That's a shame, it's good to learn canvassing with an experienced group and byelections are fun. Some handy tips. First, never ever close a conversation with any voter - you will lose their vote if they don't stop the conversation. Second bring a watch so that you always wait at least ten minutes on a every doorstep when you don't get an immediate answer as this gives the frail and elderly a chance to get to the door. And lastly, always try really hard to persuade the die hard Conservative voters to your side as they are worth twice as much, one vote more for your side and one vote less for theirs.You are, of course, welcome. For some reason, when I read this, my mind turned - for the first time for many years - to Monty Python's Hungarian phrasebook. |
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