MP canvassing with child

It isn't. Maybe the child in question is really interested in politics. If someone I disagreed with knocked on my door I wouldn't automatically launch into a foul mouthed tirade of abuse, most people wouldn't.

I'm an anti Tory but i wouldnt assume he's brought the kid as a human shield. Id assume that he's brought his child so he can experience it.

A teenager being there wouldn't stop me debating with a tory on my doorstep.

Oh for goodness sake, children go out canvassing with their parents all the time! My seven year old regularly comes out with me. What a brilliant opportunity to teach children about democracy. What a shame that you have said you are judging their parenting when all the parent is doing is teaching them how our country’s politics operates.

As a teenager I was really politically active and canvassed from 16. My parents weren't involved at all so I was effectively with strangers. But it was my volunteering/hobby & I enjoyed it. Some people were awful, I heard a lot of verbal abuse & saw one politician have urine thrown at them. I wouldn't say I was in any way scarred by it & actually I learned a lot about dealing with people, difficult situations etc. 15/16 year old could be working in a shop etc & also come across bad behaviour. Also a politician & their family will be open to abuse even if they're at a restaurant or the beach or wherever. So this particular teen will see abuse directed at the dad even if they weren't taken canvassing.

Sounds a bit down-market; he should've taken a leaf from Jacob Rees-Mogg's book and brought the nanny along too.

DS is 15, one of his friends is volunteering with one of the political parties for this upcoming elections, helping out with leaflet drops and door knocking. He is not related to the candidate.

I'd be more concerned about being aligned with people who would feel it appropriate to abuse someone doing their job regardless of whether they have a teenager with them or not.

I was canvassed for Labour by a mid/late teen girl, who called over the candidate (could have been her mum) when she couldn’t answer my question on social care.

I agree with PP - no one should be abusing canvassers, it shouldn’t be an unsafe thing for teens to do. I would think a lot less of someone who abused a canvasser, even if I entirely agreed with their politics and disagreed with the canvasser’s. Democracy is too important to damage it by performative doorstep rage, let alone threats or actual violence.

I used to canvas with my relative. I loved it. How is it inappropriate. It was interesting hearing different views and a great life lesson

maybe he wanted to inspire his teen? I know this is a bit ‘in an ideal world’ but he shouldn’t have to use his child at a shield- people shouldn’t be shouting or getting violent towards Candidates-if people could just be rational as opposed to angry idiots things might move a bit faster.Am in Ireland but I spoke to a canvasser last week in my driveway-told him we weren’t of the same mindset but in a diplomatic way. Hopefully people show a bit of respect to him in front of his son

Nobody should be facing abuse while out canvassing, children with them or not. You may not agree with their politics but that doesn’t mean you can abuse them - just say no thank you and shut the door!

people often complain about the lack of canvassing but if we are of the opinion the abuse given would be too much for a 15 year old to cope with then you can hardly blame them for not canvassing!

Not just canvassing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/16/newsid_2913000/2913807.stm

I went canvassing and leafleting with my dad from about age 5. He wasn’t a candidate (or a Tory!) just an activist and I went because I enjoyed it. I loved spending time with my dad, I loved playing “postman” and i Often got given sweets and treats.

perhaps this kid is interested and engaged with his dad’s political career. I am still very politically engaged now and am Canvassing and leafleting this GE aged 56.

This is Mumsnet where children can't be left alone until age 18 and upon reaching that age are pushed out of the door to fend for themselves being then adults 🙄

Why?

Children can be really interested in politics.

Mine love learning about it and talking about it

And I would like to think everyone would be respectful to politicians, even if they dislike their politics

Mine have been to all manner of political things since they were babies in a carrier.
I remember my son sitting on a campaign stall as a toddler pointing out whenever an interesting truck passed by. I called him out "transport spokesman".
And another time leafleting when he announced "I'm bored of putting leaflets in doors. I'm going to put a stick in the next one"
And my daughter who's been to so many meetings that she play acted them with her dolls. I used to write the minutes for her!
I usually cut them a deal. Good behaviour at Mummy's boring political thing. Then a McDonalds and a fun activity for the rest of the day.

I don't think it harmed them at all. It was an education in democracy. It's good for them to feel part of a wider adult world.
They're both big enough to stay home by themselves now, and mostly choose to.
So I'd guess if a teen was on the campaign trail it was because he wanted to be.

You weren't even there when it happened?! So much effort for something that was such a non event. Plus a follow up mumsnet post.

My local lib dem candidate has tons of older teenagers out on the campaign trail with him, I assume it's the youth branch of the local party.

Could have been “take your child to work day”. Or could have been a work experience teen. My DD shadowed our MP for three days. Also why on earth would anyone take offence at this? It’s good for the young to learn and making an assumption that a Conservative mp is wrong to do this is ludicrous! Even if it was his son, so what? MPs work very hard and many don’t see too much of their families. Just give them a break! We are turning into such a nasty country where something totally ok is seen as something reprehensible to make a political point.

I have no problem with this. I used to help with canvassing (different party) as a teenager. I didn’t knock on doors until I was 16 I think, but I leafleted, ran the board to keep track of answers and carried extra material. I’ve also canvassed for someone whose older daughter (10ish) came with us a few times to spend time with her Dad - again she didn’t go to the door, but was in the general group, she had a good walk, fresh air and a lot of people she knew to chat to on and off.

If the teenager was reluctant and stroppy then it would be a really bad image. If they were keen/interested/curious, then why on Earth not?

Becoming an MP isn't like other jobs. Rightly or wrongly.

It's a family thing which expectations placed on everyone in the family unit in terms of their lifestyle and behaviour as it's regarded as in the public interest.

Afterall if you have the MP who is standing on law and order policy, if their teen has a long criminal history thats worthy of comments because of standards in public life and hypocrisy.

The impact of being a candidate can't be ignored - abuse is part of the job. Again rightly or wrongly.

It's a lifestyle choice not just a job.

I don't think you can criticise it anymore than someone who goes veggie or is religious or has a life risking job (such as police or fire).

The family have to suck up these decisions.

The son is at an age where he could say no. He hasn't. There's every reason to believe he's supportive and proud of dad.

As others have said if they are a teen then surely they are making a choice to be there. Likely into politics themselves. So a member of youth parliament / young conservatives. almost irrelevant whether they are his child or not, if they weren't introduced as such. Canvassing is often a family thing as politics is a vocation. And to be perfectly honest, there are some political candidates who appear to be teenagers.

My relative is an mp and does this too-I feel sorry for the now teen who has had to do this shite since they were very young

If the child is happy to be there and wants to actively engage in politics then personally I don’t see an issue.

Perhaps the teen wanted to come?