A day trip to Crewe

8.04pm: Some random observations:

• This seat certainly appears like a two-horse race. No evidence of LibDem activity.
• Lots of Labour to Tory switchers. Switchers are citing a dislike for Brown as much as the 10p issue.
• Voters are volunteering their unhappiness at Labour's toffs campaign.  Stephan Shakespeare wrote earlier about Labour "weapons testing" in Crewe.  On today's evidence the weapons are only going to injure their creators.
• Not sure of the effectiveness of Labour's Alex Ferguson poster.  Not everyone supports MU!   One Arsenal supporter was very unhappy about it.
• One person told one of our team that they were definitely voting for "Tamsin Outhwaite"!
• Real evidence that voters have had enough of this campaign.  They've been 'Iowa'ed' with masses of leaflets, rings of the doobell and phone calls.  The quality of the Tory literature is the best the ConHome coach party have ever seen from our party but it's close to being too much of a good thing.
• Hat-tip to Islington Tories for providing 5 members of our party of 47.  (Promised them we'd mention that).
• This seat is definitely winnable because of the A1 operation being run by Stephen Gilbert and Eric Pickles.  We'll know on Friday morning if it was enough.
• Boris will be pleased that no alcohol was consumed on the homeward journey.

6.01pm: Most of the team before we got on the bus to return home at 5.30pm (click to enlarge):

2.52pm: Should have mentioned that most of us were out canvassing/ leafletting within ten minutes of arriving at our "sector HQ" - it's a very efficient operation here... but not everyone wanted our literature:

1.36pm: All activists are now on the campaign trail - delivering leaflets or canvassing.  No stopping for lunch.  We all ate on the coach.  Our base camp is a pub which is displaying posters for all three main parties.  Some disappointment here that that doesn't include posters of Miss Great Britain.

The ConHome coach is on its way to Crewe.  47 passengers.  4 boxes of Krispy Kremes consumed (48 donuts).  9 copies of The Sunday Times being read.  Six Sunday Telegraphs.  Two Mail on Sundays.  One Observer.  According to reliable reports there were 400 Conservative activists in the constituency yesterday.  Tamsin Dunwoody could only boast of half as many Labour activists.  Will report more as the day progresses.  This is the current view from the 'Hare Express' (although there are a few tortoises on board):

Comments

[ak23566]

ONE OBSERVER !

Have you been infiltrated ?

[Fiona]

I hope you have as much fun as we did yesterday. Everything was organised very well, the reaction on the doorstep was positive, and I was shocked to see the Labour leaflets - no substance, just photos signifying not very much and blatant nepotism. A complete contrast to the Conservative leaflets which were informative and positive.

[Will Stobart]

Have a nice trip, go convert some heathens! :)

[Patsy Sergeant]

Go-to-it Friends!!!

[James, Swadlincote]

Hey guys, good luck on your trip and day up there!

Just been watching The Politics Show which had Hariett Harman on. Poor thing was mauled by the presenter over the campaign literature they'd been putting out, with Harman vainly, and even naively, trying to say they were running a "positive campaign focussing on the positive aspects that Labour has brought to this country in the last 11 years."

She also hit out against the last Tory administration with a weak attack again.

Try and nab all the "positive" Labour Literature you can chaps, I doubt you'll find any, but hey!

[Andrew Woodman]

Was up there yesterday and it was a good response (in a very nice area so not easy to judge). Said hello to a Lib Dem who just stared at me but saw no Labour people out. Delivered a pledge letter to a house that had 3 Labour posters on it which was a concern. Laboue deserve a kicking for this disgraceful campaign, let's just hope we can deliver it.

[Paul D]

Harperson squirming on the Politics Show was funny. She put a brave face on but was obviously unimpressed by the Labour campaign, and even moreso when she tried to deflect criticism of her own upbringing with regards to the "Toff" campaign

[Tom Hunt]

Am a hare express passenger - just done our first delivery - stephen phillips and matt lane are ferrying all of us around - very well organised indeed - military precision!

[Boy Blue]

It wasn't so long ago that Sundays were a 'day off' for the public from election campaigning.

I am not convinced that we should have abandoned that rule.

[Paul D]

re: the 2:52 update - how about "Vote Conservative for no more election crap for 2 years"?

[Paul Kennedy]

All makes one think that the candidate's spending limit for Parliamentary By Elections should be the same as for General Elections. ;)

[Paul Kennedy]

Laboue (sic) deserve a kicking for this disgraceful campaign.......

Posted by: Andrew Woodman | May 18, 2008 at 13:46

They do indeed

[Paul D]

Thanks for the updates guys - what's it looking like on the ground? Politics Show says both parties claiming it's too close to call - agree with that or are we (or Liebour) downplaying expectations?

[Libertarian]

Tim, get rid of the shorts!!

Until I saw that photograph, I thought that I needed to diet.

[Praguetory]

I just 'might' have the backstory to that 'no election leaflets' sign. I was delivering on a pleasant estate in South Nantwich yesterday when a woman came out and said that she'd put our literature in the bin. I apologised and offered to take it back so she went round the back to return the leaflet. I told her that there was plenty more literature to come so she should put a sign up. I was puzzled when she said that she had a sign up already as I didn't think my fellow leafleteer would ignore it.

She showed me the sign above. 'We'll all ignore that' I told her,'because we don't consider it to be junk mail'. You need to put another sign up.

On the same round I met a bloke who had been called three times by Tories. They called from London and just wanted to know how I was going to vote. This struck me as odd. One, why would we call so many times and secondly would a Conservative canvasser announce that we were calling from London? Sounds like dark arts. Someone else mentioned being called at 10.30 at night. I find it implausible that this would be part of the official campaign.

We are overloading the electorate and I think it is becoming counterproductive. Unless we are saying something different, interesting or ultra-local, I don't see the point of some of this last minute literature.

[will.b]

Yes, on the day I was there I was delivering the third Conservative leaflet of the day to one street.

[Matt Wright]

There does seem to be some Labour dark goings on. We had a person saying they were rung at 10.30pm as well.

[Oberon Houston]

Well done guys, I'll be up there Wednesday and Thursday helping them out. Looks like it will come down to just a few votes, so the poor electorate may be getting tired of things, but its counter intuitive to ease off.

Start gong into more Labour areas - mix it up a bit! (ps, Eric, thats not a green light to pack me off with a 16 year old spotty activist to 'Little Moscow'.

[David (One of many)]

Being from Tunbridge Wells, I am of course a Man Utd supporter. However, just one of my friends in Cheshire is a MU supporter, so I'm not sure Fergie is the best person to get out the working class vote up there (which is what Labour are trying).

And more to the point, do the American Insurance Group want Labour to win as well? I'm pretty sure there's a rule against clear company logos appearing in party promotional materials because it gives the impression the company supports the party.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Are you going to reveal the names of this Conhome team? I recognise a few faces but not many. It would be good to be able to put faces to names of regular posters.

[Praguetory]

My suggestion would be to focus exclusively on highly local messages in this final week (e.g 10 Promises From Edward To The People Of Crewe/Nantwich). Should be enough to give the waverers the excuse they need to back our man.

[Sally Roberts]

Just got home after a brilliant day! What fun and will provide me with some lasting memories - whatever happens on Thursday!
Some memories will include:-
1. The dear little cupcakes thoughtfully provided by Graeme & Co;
2. The dreadful class-ridden and childish Labour leaflet which hopefully will encourage many people to vote Conservative on Thursday!
3. The friendly camaraderie of everyone during the day;
4. Coach driver Michael who was friendly, helpful, an excellent driver and did his best to sort out the Slightly Unfortunate Loo!;

and finally.....

5. Tim who organised it all - thanks Tim, you were a real star!

[Peter]

On one of my visits recently I met one dear old chap putting his bin out in Wynbunbury who called me a Tory ***t and hadn't forgiven me for putting children up chimneys and down the pits.

Anyhow, on with my delivering I asked which was his home ... "I,m not telling you...", so I pushed at the next gate ... "don't bother delivering there!!!"

To balance his charm, I got a cheery "hello" and wave from a "walking bus" of primary school children which added to my wonderful day out no end.

On all my visits found all the bundling and mapping perfection itself.

[Richard Carey]

On all my visits found all the bundling and mapping perfection itself.

I'd agree with that, Peter - I've been up there myself this weekend, delivering in Shavington & Willaston today. The organisation in the sector offices is a real credit to our professional staff and volunteers up there.

Real evidence that voters have had enough of this campaign. They've been 'Iowa'ed' with masses of leaflets, rings of the doobell and phone calls. The quality of the Tory literature is the best the ConHome coach party have ever seen from our party but it's close to being too much of a good thing.

I encountered some of this myself, which seemed mostly to be easily defused with understanding and good humour (yes, me!!)

I think it is probably correct that we are reaching saturation point on the general campaigning, but if this was going to happen, this is the best point in time for it. I don't have any knowledge of the plan for the next week (and wouldn't post it here if I did), but I would expect that like most campaigns the tone and gear of the campaign will change, with communications probably becoming more personalalised and targeted as we start getting in to GOTV mode. This might alleviate some of the "carpet-bombed to death" feelings...

A great feel up there though, and a campaign that we can be proud of regardless of the result. Well done to all who went.

(Sally - I want a cup-cake too!!)

[Ben Locker]

It was an extremely boring copy of the Observer too. I'm almost minded to name the culprit who brought it along.

Just home myself, but a big thanks to Tim for organising the trip. And to Graeme for the excellent cupcakes and laughter.

[Sally Roberts]

Well Richard, you'll have to come on the next By Election Adventure whenever that is (Henley?!)

[Nigel Syson]

Had a good day in crewe. Locals very friendly and anti Brown. Our Sunday paper very good much better than the rubbish I delivered in Ealing. Our candidate very good and approachable - again much better than Ealing where Tony Litt got in the Sunday papers with his Tony Blair photo. In comparison to Ealing better candidate and better campaign. Hopefully a much better result.

[graeme archer]

Thanks to Tim for organising and the brilliant driver and the amazing organisation on the ground from Lizzie and her crew(e) and the excellent company from all the charged up con-homers esp of course sally, ben and liam and the decent folk of crewe who chatted to us in the pub before we left. The cupcakes are from "violet" on hackney's broadway market, sally- anything you west londoners can do, etc. And mea culpa, the Observer was mine.

I hope we do this again Tim. CH has a real as well as a virtual constituency. Never enjoyed a day's canvassing so much.

[Richard Carey]

Well Richard, you'll have to come on the next By Election Adventure whenever that is (Henley?!)

Thanks, Sally, I certainly will - although I'll be trying to get more volunteers from my neck of the woods as well, which might mean taking a different route again. Forgot my camera, so didn't get any inspirational pictures for our in-house newsletter to help with that - might have to licence one of Tim's above! Maybe the iconic "no-one can accuse us of not getting enough literature out" image?!

I'd not done a parliamentary by-election since Leicester South in 2004, so thought I was well over-due. A local colleague and I went up on Sat night, which gave us a good run at it today from 9am (700+ newspapers we think)- not to forget an excellent Chinese meal last night...

Fingers crossed for Thursday - and a big pat on the back to our team there. I'm sure everyone's getting tired, but just keep it coming.

[Annabel Herriott]

Nigel Syston! Tony Lit was at C and N on Saturday. Saw him myself, had a nice chat in the same campaign centre that The CH Homies were allocated to.
He would agree with you that Ealing wasnt the right place for him. I sincerely hope that he is selected and wins in another southern seat - Kent maybe. He was working hard as well. Very personable, nice bloke. Whats your problem??

[Michael]

No Lib Dems? They're swarming all over the constituency!

[Sally Roberts]

We saw a copy of the Lib Dem leaflet featuring a Nice Lady in a Crimplene Cardigan called Elizabeth that they said "everyone was talking about" - I don't think they were though!

[Michael Fabricant]

I am coordinating the MPs up here on behalf of the Whips' Office. All have them have been really impressed by the organisation of the Campaign and the efficiency of Stephen Gilbert's master plan!

As one MP said to me (sounding rather like Captain Mainwaring, I thought) "It's running like a well oiled machine". And the MPs are working hard too doing anything that is asked of them - with real enthusiasm.

[Cleethorpes Rock]

It certainly was very well organised, and everyone had a great time. Other parties seemed to be very thin on the ground.

We went to a Labour stronghold and bumped into Labour's Tony Lloyd MP, who was pleasant and good-humoured. However, once we saw him further down the street and there were six of us, he asked if we were ganging upon him! It can't be good for Labour's morale when we're taking the fight to them on their own patch, with Labour MPs out on their own outnumbered 6-1 in street battles with the opposition!

[Graham]

Labour aren't so much running scared as giving up. Harriet Harman annoyed the press by cancelling her visit today. Given what she seems to think about Labour's dreadful, negative campaign, it's no surprise that she couldn't bring herself to go.

Minsters briefing left, right and centre to lower expectations ahead of a bad loss.

[James]

Who's the guy on the bus? doesn't he want to be in the piccy?

[RoadToSmurfdom]

Did you hear the interview with David Cameron on the radio this morning? He thanked all of those who helped during the campaign, but then went on to say “It was the Conservative Home day-trippers what won it!”

Or something like that.