I feel really lazy now!

Nothing, not a bean have I posted since November! I have just caught up with my friend's blog and now feel totally inadequate...... Just that I hate, loath and abhor Christmas.....this year I have hurt by back (again) having had to lug far to much stuff too far. My cold has now turned into a truly horrible cough, probably something to do with going in and out of hot and cold places doing most of the childrens present shopping on the day before xmas eve!!!! My ribs hurt from coughing too much and all I want to do is go home!!!

Apart from the Christmas whinge (BAH!Humbug) I have not been idle, I have printed, folded, stuffed and delivered leaflets, I have phoned many people and I have only gone and gotten myself selected as the County Council Candidate for Delapre ward! What was I thinking, have I run completely mad, I am just hoping I don't let people down. I Need A Plan and my brain is somewhat fuzzy with this bloody cold! And we have a by-election, which means I have a polling day organisation to run without upsetting anyone!! With the computerisation of campaigning techniques and tools, we have forgotten how to run Polling Day (and more importantly Polling week) and polling day begins Wednesday Evening and polling week begins on the Monday morning. This is the time when you ram home the Message and the Message is Vote Labour! And in the present climate that is what people want a good old fashioned Vote Labour message, the message that traditionally says 'we will look after you from 'the cradle to the grave' however bad other things may get', you will have food, you will have education, you will have free health care, you will have a home, that says'by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone'.

There are some members of my constituency who do not seem to grasp this, and behave like small children who can't get their own way. I don't allow tantrums in my Committee Room, so anyone who decides to behave like that may as well just go home, if you are in my committee room you are there to work, you are there to do as you're told when you are told to do it, You accept, without question, that I am in charge because I know exactly what I am doing! Polling Day is about nothing else but getting bums on seats, it is not about policy, it is not about personality, it is about getting people to vote, preferably for your candidate.

Strop over, Luckily Anjona has a very good canidate in Geoff Howes, Party stalwart, very well known, led the council, champion of Northampton's historic market, was the Mayor, brought up in the Ward, does as he's told, and at least I know they will do as they are told. Bless.

Never say never again.....

Well here we are about to select our County Council Candidates for next year, and still working hard for the Party! Meanwhile there has been no sign of our new PPC, which is somewhat disappointing to say the least. We have some very able sitting Councillors and some very able prospective candidates and would appreciate some support from Clyde in the run up to this rather important election!

Tomorrow is a Labour Action day and we will be phone canvassing for 4 hours in the Labour Club from 12 noon until 4pm, and any help offered will be more than appreciated.

All over bar the shouting!

Tomorrow is D-day, as in the day that Northsampton South Labour Party finally select their (our) PPC for the next general election, local support is firmly behind my friend, at least as far as the activists are concerned. This is for obvious reasons, she works, she works hard and then she does more work, for The Party, the people and the community. She has principles, she has policies and she has integrity, so I am praying to the gods (whoever they may be) that those members who are eligible to vote give her their wholehearted support. Northampton South needs Anjona, The Labour Party need Anjona and the community needs Anjona, let us all hope they get her.

Again

So tonight we phone canvassed again for the Party, not for the prospective prospective parliamentary candidate but for the Party, although yet again (and this is weeks in) there was only one of the PPPC's with us, the others are all aware we do this every wednesday, so why, if they are serious about representing Northampton South and the Labour Party, are they not there?

Here we go.....

well it's 3 days to go 'til selection, one more mailing and then the hustings..... so far so good we hope, despite not because as they say.....

Finally moved!!

Well here I am, moved but seriously not unpacked! But am very glad I did. Anjona has been shortlisted with over 70% of nominations from the branches and a significant number of Trade Union and other affiliated organisations.

Hurray Hurray Hurray!!! But there is many a slip between cup and lip, so the serious campaigning continues! The difference between my friend and the other shortlisted candidates is that not onle is she campaigning to be selected, but that she is continuing to campaign for the Labour Party per se.

For example this week alone we have produced 2000 leaflets, folded and bundled ready for delivery tomorrow ( and the chances are that myself and Anjona will deliver them single handed), phone canvassed and contacted around 75 people, recruited a possible 3 new members, as well as Anjona's personal campaigning..... Not that I'm blowing any Trumpets ( actually more your full brass band.....including Euphonium, French Horn and full Percussion! ).

On a personal note I have the frustration of lack of internet and Sky Talk and the continuing unpacking saga......

Confused and concerned......

Why? As selection for Northampton South approaches I am confused and concerned that very few of those people applying for the seat actually come from Northampton, there are prospective candidates from London and as far away as Birmingham and Swansea. It seems that many 'politicians' will apply for any seat going, without any local knowledge, commitment or proven local activism, just to become a prospective parliamentary candidate! Not to mention those that apply whilst already having responsibilities in their own locality, personally I do not see how you can be an effective candidate AND fulfil commitments already made to the electorate in another constituency.

I would be asking questions such as, are you prepared to resign your commitments to concentrate on Northampton South, are you prepared to move to represent the electorate and most importantly why are you prepared to abandon those people who have put their faith in you to represent them?

I have always firmly believed that anyone who wishes to stand for election should live in the constituency (and if standing locally should preferably live in the ward! Although I do accept that this is not always possible.), have local knowledge and proven local commitment. This is the least the electorate deserve from their representatives, and tthe sooner 'politicians' recognise this the better it will be for all of us!