Alex Deane is a partner at a City consultancy, a former political aide, and the Conservative candidate for Finchley and Golders Green.
Monday
The week starts with a bang, with the Party Chairman campaigning with us. A big group of activists are with us as we set out from the constituency office, Margaret Thatcher House – which Richard knows well, as he recently came to reopen it after it was set on fire.
This is the sort of thing that is at stake; as I have said elsewhere in these pages, there are many points upon which we differ from our opponents but we are united in our belief in democracy rather than violence. More prosaically we get out almost all of this batch of material… before the next batch arrives!
Tuesday
Spent on my day job. Worth mentioning as some online warriors seem to think that candidates are bathing in money whilst gargling champagne. Across the political spectrum, those willing to stand are doing so at their own expense and effort. Remember that when they come knocking, even if you don’t much feel like being friendly!
Meanwhile my friend Simon is out nailing what’s left of the material from yesterday. In politics you won’t get far without allies and old friends coming to your aid. I am very lucky.
Wednesday
Meeting residents in the Hampstead end of the constituency, who set out some concerns about community safety, especially in light of a recently-announced march set to go past pretty much every synagogue in the patch. Then a call with a resident worried about safety around Cricklewood station – completely reasonably, given the points she makes.
As per last week’s diary, I stress that candidates can’t yet take action – but hopefully they know who can and will find a way to help.
In this case, the excellent Conservative councillors in Barnet promptly pick up the issues I raise. Such is the teamwork an aspirant hopes to enjoy if elected. Then on to Ally Pally for a truly remarkable event – Jtrade, a trade fair for Jewish businesses in London. It’s a fantastic community event – and brilliant for a candidate who can see thirty thriving companies in the constituency in one go!
Thursday
A video I posted online is doing the rounds on social media and via Whatsapp. I didn’t hold back. Very glad to have people getting in touch – mostly positively!
I check in with our team doing phone canvassing. It’s worth a shout out, not least as some people who can’t or don’t want to go door to door might not realise that this is a very helpful way to assist someone’s campaign from the comfort of your home – or with friends and colleagues in a constituency office!
Friday
In partnership with Ameet Jogia, our candidate in Hendon, I meet with rabbis from both there and across Finchley and Golders Green. It’s a brilliant meeting.
(Most people don’t even think about what constituency they’re in from year to year – if you’ve got a community that exists across an imaginary constituency line, then find a way to work with them in conjunction with others rather than treating the arbitrary border as a barrier!)
Then on to meet constituents for endorsements on forthcoming literature.
Saturday
We canvass. If you don’t like knocking on doors, don’t go into politics! Very grateful to the team from Hampstead who come to help. Mutual aid is little recognised outside campaigning… but magic within it.
Sunday
Canvassing morning and (gloriously sunny) afternoon. It’s a cliché to say that responses are positive – but so they were! A large group is out with us, led by Mike Freer. I am very lucky to be his successor as candidate, he goes the extra mile each and every time – which is why he was such a good MP.
Meanwhile, my article in the Barnet Post drops.
Less positively, a group in the constituency gets in touch to say that I was the only candidate willing to participate in their hustings, so they’re cancelling it!
Public debate is an important part of the democratic process. Constituents are entitled to see their prospective MPs in debate before they elect them, or so I think. In our oppositional Parliament, in which the idea is to crash government’s policies headlong into the opposition’s arguments as hard as each side can so that they are properly tested before they are enacted, it’s part of the process – and a good one.
I can understand someone not wanting to be an MP, and not wanting to speak in public… but I can’t really understand someone wanting to be an MP, but not wanting to speak in public…
I’m happy to debate my opponents anytime, anywhere. They presently seem to feel differently. Let’s hope that that changes!
