Monday
Claire Coutinho joins us for the morning canvass. She’s adept on the doorstep and we cut a quick video about her energy interests too. Any ministers reading this should be assured that support like this means the world to candidates and it really gives a shot in the arm to activists!
I do two journalist interviews in the afternoon – the Jewish News and the London Tab. Gaza and the Middle Eastern situation features heavily in both. The first is out, the second will drop in due course. I don’t think that he was expecting the answers I gave…
Tuesday
A key meeting with community activists, in conjunction with the Hendon activists and their candidate Ameet Jogia. Suella Braverman drops by to give encouraging remarks. She has been a friend for 25 years and I am proud to campaign with her. An afternoon call with a trade association keen to know the positions being taken by candidates, and canvassing in the evening.
Deane’s golden rule – if you don’t like dogs, don’t go into politics – is to the fore, as I hit one street with a clutch of chattering canines! Fortunately… I do!
Wednesday
I speak at the University of the Third Age meeting in Hampstead Garden Suburb. The questions are thoughtful, erudite and on point – it’s not my first U3A meeting, I have always enjoyed them. Then canvassing, then a long Q&A into the night in the Jewish community.
Part of my intention in aspiring to replace the excellent Mike Freer is to ensure that that much put-upon group continues to have non-Jewish allies in Parliament. Whilst I have an excellent Labour opponent, fortunately for me her front bench just can’t help contributing to reasons to prefer the Conservative Party on this topic.
Thursday
Oh dear. Canvassing is positive, but that isn’t the main thing on 6 June 2024, is it? The Prime Minister leaves D Day commemorations early. Lest people think that this is a remorselessly crawling diary: I just find this so appalling.
Not, as some say, about the “optics” or about the “advice he’s getting” – about the act, and the thought process that could take anyone to it. The more I think about it, the dumber and worse it is. Rightly, the PM has apologised. I think he means it; I think he genuinely cares about the sacrifices made by the greatest generation (and those that followed them in our armed forces); and of course I don’t think that he meant for a moment to cause the feelings it did.
But no shying away from it, it was a mistake – made when we can afford precious few.
Friday
Just in time for the close of nominations, the Labour Party and their allies release their dossiers on candidates. Or perhaps that’s unfair and it’s a total coincidence that a number of candidates happen to have stories about them launched on this day. Two left-wing media outlets try with me. I respond promptly.
Meanwhile I meet a property company seeking to build in the patch, then a prominent supporter, then meet with my campaign team and Mike Freer (did I mention last week how lucky I am to inherit my candidacy from someone standing down who still works so hard? I did. I’ll say it again. I am very lucky.)
Then another meeting, pretty late. (Second rule: these aren’t nine to five gigs, however many alterations are made to Parliamentary sitting hours.)
Saturday and Sunday
Double session canvassing, both days. It doesn’t make for interesting diary copy I suppose, but as all politicos know, it’s actually fascinating. To have a reason/excuse to go and knock on people’s doors and ask them what they think about things is a privilege and a quirk of our own democratic process, surprisingly not universal even in other democracies.
Third rule: if you don’t like knocking on doors, don’t go into politics in the UK! Across the political spectrum, some people seem to think that they’re going to drift into some sort of super senior advisory role doing strategy without putting in the hard yards. Too much West Wing in their viewing diet I think.
Oh, and the lefty articles both drop. But sorry, lads – little impact. I’m still standing!
This article first appeared in conservativehome
