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Original poster

Canvassing on school run.

52 replies

LovelyBath · 05/05/2015 17:32

The labour party were out in force at the school gates today, one on either side so no escape! Can we not even escape it on the school run.?

OP posts:
Bodyinpyjamas10 · 05/05/2015 20:51

Suppose it depends if politics interests you or not though.

TwinkieTwinkle · 05/05/2015 20:53

Because they aren't there to get children involved in politics. They are their to pester the parents who are no doubt in a hurry. My son has a perfectly good understanding of politics and actively questions me about things. However, someone canvassing at the school gate isn't going to teach him anything when he is running into the playground to go to his actual lessons.

Bogeyface · 05/05/2015 20:55

This happened at my school today, exactly the same set up so I am wondering if its the same school!

Didnt bother me but then I am a labour supporter and one of the guys there was the local labour councillor who runs the Youth Parish Council so DD was very pleased to see him as she is on the council. She is a confirmed communist but has accepted that Socialism is the only realistic option :o

Scholes34 · 05/05/2015 20:55

Where else could you easily target parents?

Kvetch15 · 05/05/2015 21:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chopchopbusybusy · 05/05/2015 21:41

The Tory candidate was canvassing outside DDs school during a previous election campaign. I didn't have a problem with them handing out leaflets or chatting to parents who wanted to chat but I did object to them sticking vote conservative stickers on the children. DD wasn't very happy that she wasn't allowed to have a sticker.

Pensionerpeep · 06/05/2015 08:59

This reply has been deleted

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Phantomteadrinker · 06/05/2015 09:14

Ooh I wonder of we are at the same school (Essex ?) ! I was pretty appalled too, giving out balloons. Smacks of desperation and wholly inappropriate IMO

LurkingHusband · 06/05/2015 09:18

Greens polled top followed by Tory

Mixed messages Confused ?

SiobhanSharpe · 06/05/2015 09:26

DH is going to do this at the end of the school day today. He will not be on school premises, he will just be handing out a leaflet to anyone who wants one and will happily chat to anyone of any political persuasion if a person engages him. He is the least pushy person I know.

The aim is to give leaflets to and/or contact PARENTS, in the hope they might be interested in or ask about education policies. If you don't want a leaflet you don't take one, and perhaps just say no, thanks he won't be pushing it in your face.

NotYouNaanBread · 06/05/2015 09:56

I wouldn't really mind that. It would give me an opportunity to ask about their immigration mug and why they're standing outside a school where half the parents are high earning immigrants.

But snarking aside, I still wouldn't really mind. Most parents on the school run are women, and fewer women vote than men. Also, younger people don't vote, and that includes people old enough to have young children. Anything that engages them with the concept of an ELECTION happening has to be a good thing.

Voting turnout by age

Voting turnout by gender

Pensionerpeep · 06/05/2015 15:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

juliascurr · 06/05/2015 22:27

when I was a candidate, I leafleted parents at schools because I'm a wheelchair user so it's virtually impossible to post leaflets door to door. If people wanted to talk, fine, but I wasn't canvassing

it's a good way to distribute 500 leaflets with two people in 15 minutes

MidniteScribbler · 06/05/2015 22:39

Voting is compulsory here, so any chance to engage with candidates and consider your vote I think is important. Too many people vote based on who their parents voted for, or who their friends vote for, or whatever the current theme of the day is. You can always just say 'no thanks' if you don't want to engage with them, I've never known any to chase you down and force you to have a conversation with them.

SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires · 06/05/2015 23:11

there is a labour poster up in my sons school

Is that even legal?

DuelingFanjo · 06/05/2015 23:13

I have heard of Tories T the school gates, they are all at it.

lemonmarmalade · 06/05/2015 23:18

Tories were outside my dc's school the other day including the current mp, handing out blue conservative balloons so it seems like they're all at it.

Radiatorvalves · 06/05/2015 23:39

Have no objection to this. Our MP has been to the school several times and is pretty good. Chuka Umana. Year 5 gave him a grilling a few months ago. They had an election today...the greens and labour won. The LibDems got 1 vote. Suppose that could happen tomorrow...

I am mostly happy to talk to canvassers, but if busy I tell them I ave no time. We are interested in politics, if a divided household!

juliascurr · 06/05/2015 23:42

outside the gate is different to posters etc on school premises
for those who are annoyed - is it obstruction? intrusive? on principle because it's a school? Genuine question from a leafleter Smile

MaitlandGirl · 07/05/2015 03:13

We've just had a state election and DS got stopped every morning on his way into the train station by the various candidates. He's too polite to ignore them, and only 19 so wasn't that confident in saying "thanks but no thanks".

After he'd missed his train 3 mornings in a row, I pinned an A4 piece of paper to his chest saying "I'm not a citizen so I can't vote"

Oddly enough they left him alone after that.

WonderingWillow · 07/05/2015 04:02

We had this at our school the other week. I thought it was a bit tacky tbh. Conservatives.

I felt like it was a bit much.

FreudiansSlipper · 07/05/2015 04:17

I would have no objection to this

Unfortunately ds has not seen anyone canvasing while he has been with me so I have not been able to explain what they are doing and why

thought I have explained the election to my very bored of hearing about it ds. hopefully next time he shall have a better understanding and be more interested I certainly was from about the age of 12

Andrewofgg · 07/05/2015 08:20

Midnite Is that Australia? Do you still get the "donkey vote" where people just vote 1 2 3 down the paper?

AtomicDog · 07/05/2015 08:31

I have no objections to this, provided they're not exploiting the presence of children (I.e. giving out balloons) . It's a good time to get to speak to people, and after the school run is a good time for people to vote (assuming they're not dashing off to work straight away).
Plus lots of polling stations are in schools!

tiggytape · 07/05/2015 08:38

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