Tuesday
On what turned out to be the day before the election was called, I met with Chris Philp, the Policing Minister.
I talked about my keen desire to see the end of the weekly marches through London – rendering our capital a no-go area for many constituents in Finchley and Golders Green, and British Jews more broadly. Under this government, at least, such points get a sympathetic hearing.
Side note. I’ve known Chris for twenty years and gallingly, whilst there I am with my greying hair, weatherbeaten face (which often attracts constructive criticism from viewers after media appearances), and growing paunch (ditto), Chris looks exactly as he did in 2005.
When I was selected I talked in these pages about the importance of having a robust but civil campaign. I intend to live up to that. This is made easier by the fact that on Tuesday evening, for the first time, I met Sarah Sackman of Labour, my principal opponent, at the Annual Barnet Council civic event for the change of Mayoralty – and as expected she’s a perfectly nice person who wants the best for the patch. It’s her Party that’s the issue…
The rest of the field has yet to really show itself. To be fair, that’s not unusual. Commentators often describe politics as having “battles” and so forth, but the reality is that for most of the time rival campaigns are more like trains running on parallel lines. You might catch glimpses of each other through the woods, you may be racing to the same destination, but – by design! – the tracks don’t cross. The temptation to think about what your opponent is up to is hard to resist – but you’re better off focusing on your own work.
Wednesday
Deliveries with a great team in the seat. Even when you’re frantically playing the role of volunteer postie, an underpriced element of political activism, some people are at home and willing to have a chat. Any candidate worth his or her salt grabs such opportunities with both hands. As I pointed out in my introductory video, people are much nicer in real life than they are online!
People talk a lot about pressure in politics. On your time. On your mind. Not to let your Party down. That’s all true, but in my case, I have an additional pressure. Mike Freer, my predecessor as Conservative in the seat, was an exceptional MP for fourteen years. Everywhere I go people say they know and really like him. Anecdotes about how he helped people are volunteered with alacrity. It’s one hell of a legacy to live up to.
The election was called soon after we packed in delivering. Well, at least we know where we stand. I think that history will be kinder of the call to go now than the present commentary!
Thursday
Now that the election is on, all my media gigs dumped me for the duration, as they should – all expected, but it’s a peculiar reversal to be fielding calls from producers at Sky, GB News, talkTV, et al to say you can’t go on! Clears the diary for campaigning.
I wrote a piece for The North West Circular about my candidacy, wrote some copy for our next leaflet, and did an interview with The Jewish Chronicle. That’s all from home. My wife and I moved south in London last year, for a bigger place with a garden, in time for the arrival of our son in February – just in time to be selected for a great seat in north London in March.
Serendipitously it means I’m in Dulwich, where Margaret Thatcher (as she was then) had her home, whilst campaigning for her seat in Finchley. It means a fair bit of travel – but nothing compared to what many candidates undertake – often for years. No complaints, albeit my excellent activists are getting used to “if I catch that train, I can get home for bath time…”
But I’m still in the patch, for a planning meeting in the evening and then for what turns out to be a very special moment.
The Phoenix, East Finchley’s beloved local cinema, has been vandalised for having the temerity to show a film about the atrocities of 7 October. Absolutely appalling. And critics threaten to disrupt the cinema’s evening on Thursday, too. Many in the local community are determined to show their support for the cinema, and I join them.
As I had nothing to do with organising anything and just pitched up to show a friendly face, I’m free to observe impartially that it was the most impressive counterprotest I’ve ever seen. Happy smiling and singing and dancing in a pretty spontaneous gathering, to block the path of those wishing to abuse a local cinema. Remarkable really.
Friday
I spend some time with a local resident concerned about crime in his street and the area around it. Seeing the footage from his home camera, with people trying his car door at all times of day and night, I can see why. Like many, he completely understands that a candidate can’t do anything yet, barring making representations to councillors et al – but we can still listen, and care.
An interview for Jonny Gould’s podcast, Jewish State. He is an adept broadcaster and his method is a useful example for political campaigners. When you’ve got content in the bank it isn’t just one lump! You can cut it up and reuse bits of it for days.
Sunday
A show recorded before the die was cast airs on Sunday on TalkTV. I was alongside my old friend Conor Burns, last seen in person at the desperately sad funeral of a young mutual friend who’d been in politics, at which he spoke so well and so movingly. People often don’t see the human side of politics but my goodness it’s there. I hope that the good people of Bournemouth West return Conor to the House once again.
Big day of campaigning in the patch. Teams of people out delivering and canvassing. I’m so lucky to have this kind of support – but also candidates can make a bit of their own luck. Use your networks! Someone expresses support in a message to you? Ask them to come out and help! The worst they can do is say no!
Here’s a last minute update I didn’t expect to be including. We are going to the country with a pledge to restore National Service. Well. I am to a large degree in politics because of my late father, who I admired and loved above all people. National Service was his favourite policy. He often spoke about how it was the one time everyone was together in society, how it taught skills for life and discipline and gave direction – how it was the making of him as a man.
Many like me will have been raised by parents who felt the same, so there’s some institutional loyalty to the policy. But I worry that we’ve got no time to really explain it. Policies need to have the pitch rolled, especially big ones.
Anyway. I’m delighted to be your diarist for the duration!
