Modern campaigning

Out at Upton Park tube station and Queens Market with our mayoral candidate, Simon Hughes, this morning. An hour spent handling out leaflets to commuters, most of whom looked bleary eyed and unenthusiastic. But to be honest, would you want your morning ruined by a bunch of aspiring politicos ramming policies down your neck at 8 in the morning?!

Then we made the short hop to the market, a promise Simon and I kept to after being there a few weeks ago. One of the traders had told us the whole area was up for re-development, so we aimed to lend some support to their efforts to keep the place open. One of the market's campaigners showed me the preferred options by the council and the timetable they were working towards. Interestingly, the preferred option of the two was supposed to have been made by January - but as far as they were aware, none had been taken.

A case of councillors and the Newham mayor keeping quiet and hoping things will blow over?

Simon walked up and down the market in the best manner of a salesman, hooked up to a wireless microphone. With him talking it was easier to shift leaflets.

I got a piece of casework, which I must knuckle down to - and our trader friend offered to distribute some leaflets about our involvement with their campaign tomorrow, when the market will be heaving. Thank goodness I have an effective campaign organiser whose taken the day off and will be able to knock out a bunch later this afternoon.

And with the wonders of modern technology, a photo of Simon and I taken on a digital camera should grace the leaflet as well.