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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to be doorstepped by political parties?

30 replies

HousewifeOfOrangeCounty · 22/04/2010 13:19

Not one knock at the door, in fact I don't think I've even had a leaflet.

When I did my sociology A level I was told that this is what would happen in the run up to a general election. I thought that I'd get at least three knocks at the door for each election from people trying to explain their policies and offer me a lift on the day if I was elderly. No, nothing.

I've been of voting age for 24 years and have hardly ever been doorstepped by a political activist and even when they do turn up it's thoroughly disappointing. They just ask if they can rely on your vote and scuttle off. If you say no, they don't even attempt to convert you! I want a good old fashioned debate, I'm open minded and reasonable and if they made a good point I could be persuaded, but they don't even try.

OP posts:
whatwasthatagain · 22/04/2010 13:20

I'm with you on this one. I get quite excited at the prospect of a good doorstep debate - but no one ever comes

MorrisZapp · 22/04/2010 13:21

Do you live in a safe seat?

You'd see more action if you lived in a marginal.

For every person who wants to be doorstepped, there's another who thinks it's a gross invasion of privacy and a waste of time and resources.

GetOrfMoiLand · 22/04/2010 13:21

I love doorstepping.

I met the local tory candidate - shook him by the hand and told him thanks, but no thanks, I will be voting for labour andh ere are the reasons why.

He was a very nice chap it seemed, you could see by his darting eyes that he wanted to get away from me though.

DP answered the door to the local labour candidate, said cheers, my missus is voting for you and I am lib dem. Cheerio! (I was in the bath)

GetOrfMoiLand · 22/04/2010 13:22

I am in a tight tory/labour marginal - currently labour but predicted to go Tory.

SelkirkGrace · 22/04/2010 13:22

I won't get any knocks at my door because I live on a militray base and even if they did get on then they wouldn't come anywhere near us,they'd go to the officers houses.

GetOrfMoiLand · 22/04/2010 13:23

I am SO excited. And probably a saddo I admit.

For years I lived in Devon in a rock solid safe Lib Dem seat, nobody ever voted labour.

Now for the first time I live in a place where my labour vote might actually come in useful.

shell96 · 22/04/2010 13:25

YANBU!

I totally agree with this! In previous elections I have been door-knocked and asked by candidates if I have any questions/issues that I would like to raise and I always say no then remember stuff after they have left. This year i have written down questions to ask about their policies on various subjects, stuck it by the front door so I have it handy and not ONE politician has been round...

feetheart · 22/04/2010 13:31

I'm desperate for the local Labour bloke to turn up so I can tell him loudly why they have lost my vote (by not condemning Margaret Moran and her 2nd home snout-in-trough £22,500 damp-proofing in bl**dy Southampton amongst other things)
Would also quite like Esther to show up so I can say 'Thanks but no thanks, I want my MP to be working for the long-term future of my area and NOT on some short-term media love-in)

Strangely they are all avoiding me

cory · 22/04/2010 13:31

Me I'd love to be door-stepped by the idiot who posted the individualised letter to me: Dear Mrs Cory, You will soon have the chance to help decide the fate of the country through your vote in the election. I hope you will agree with us that one of the major problems facing this country is the influx of immigrants blahablahah.

Yeah, do step up to my door, mate, so I can grab you by the buttonhole and point out that no, as a matter of fact, I shall not be in a position to decide the fate of the country, for the simple reason that I am not, and never have been, a British citizen. Now do tell me about those immigrants, sounds absolutely awful...

Original poster
HousewifeOfOrangeCounty · 22/04/2010 13:31

Not properly marginal here, but it was very close in 97 apparently (have only just moved here). I've also been told that our MP (Tory) had a bad record over the expenses scandal in fact I'll be googling him in a minute. So, I don't think they can be too complacent.

So all those political activists who are lurking or trolling on here get out from behind your computers, knock on doors and explain yourselves.

OP posts:
2shoes · 22/04/2010 13:35

yanbu
I would love to get the knock on the door, as I have no ide who to vote for

Poledra · 22/04/2010 13:36

Oooohhh yes! I am desperate for our current (Tory) MP to show up so I can quiz him on his expenses (he's not been charged. but has 'worked the system').

And I'm quite keen to see if the Labour candidate is actually the schoolboy he appears to be from his leaflet. One rather suspects that he's only standing for the experience as there is no real hope that the Tory will be unseated.

LibDem chap is currently a councillor - there are number of things I'd like to address with him......

I think they're avoiding me though.

potplant · 22/04/2010 13:38

We're a safe seat so they don't bother round here. We haven't even had any leaflets so far either. Can't believe I've got marginal-set-door-step-envy.

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 22/04/2010 13:40

If you really have a particular question you want to ask the local candidates, you should just be able to phone them up and ask them.
Have a poke around google (maybe start at ukpollingreport if you don't know the name) and it should be reasonably easy to find their office number.

Original poster
HousewifeOfOrangeCounty · 22/04/2010 13:42

well I've just googled this Tory chap here and he seems lovely pro hunting and anti gay. Now I really want them to knock on the door.

OP posts:
AppleTreeWick · 22/04/2010 13:44

I have a whole set of lovely put downs ready and waiting but haven't had the opportunity yet either.

Mind you the last time I did get doorstepped by the sitting MP all I could witter on about to him was what a good job the road sweepers were doing nowadays.

In my defence 1 we did have a nasty problem with rubbish from the fast food shops blowing everywhere until the council realised that their electorate consisted of vapid fools like me.

In my defence 2 he visited cos I e-mail him complaining about stuff he has no influence over most weeks. I think it makes us both feel better.

Could someone direct me to a whimsical thread please I am fast losing the plot of this election?

OtterInaSkoda · 22/04/2010 13:52

We live in a new constituency where all three major parties have a good chance of winning - it really is as tight as can be.

Nobody has doorstepped me. Nobody!

Apparently our Tory candidate is:

"well known for his unique way of electioneering: in 1997, he waged a memorable campaign in Central Fife, crawling the dank, staunchly Labour streets in a Bentley and distributing leaflets with the help of his nanny, Veronica Crook. ?I do wish you wouldn?t keep going on about the nanny,? he said afterwards. ?If I?d had a valet, you?d think it was perfectly normal.?"

I shall be bitterly disappointed if he doesn't make it round to us

Poledra · 22/04/2010 14:01

Otter, that is truely fantastic! "If I?d had a valet, you?d think it was perfectly normal." ROFL.

Now, when they say 'his nanny' do they mean the person who looks after his children or his actual nanny??

patienceplease · 22/04/2010 14:05

Just wanted to say, as my DH is currently spending all his time compaigning and knocking on doors (and no he is not standing for election) that you do have to give them time.
Most constituencies have about 65,000 voters. So if they all live 2 to a house(which is obviously a major over-generalisation), thats 32,500 houses to visit. Most candidates don't have lots of volunteers, they'll have maybe up to 30 willing to knock on doors (if they're lucky). So thats 32500 houses for them each to go to. So if each house took 1 minute to visit (again unlikely) and they did this 24 hours a day, every day, it would take them 22 days to visit every one.

LadyBlaBlah · 22/04/2010 14:09

YANBU Our Tory cand ponced down the street last week, one of his plebs knocked on our door and asked if they could count on my vote.

There was no debate or counter argument when she realised I was in the NO camp, in fact she apologised for Chris Graylings homophobia ! And then left. Twas a rubbish encounter and pointless canvas.

OtterInaSkoda · 22/04/2010 14:14

Poledra it was his nanny. Really.

Poledra · 22/04/2010 14:21

Sweet Jesus Christ - it just gets better!! Thanks for that, Otter.

cory · 22/04/2010 14:25

ooh, the loony quota is high this week: love the valet quote

thank you, Otter!!!

feed me another couple of candidates and I'll be able to face the rest of my marking!

PositiveAttitude · 22/04/2010 14:27

I thought I was the only one in the land who has been looking forward to that knock. I am not alone in my political geekiness.

The DCS have been banned from answering the door for the nest few weeks, but so far, nothing! I love a good debate, me.
I look forward to the JWs giving me a knock, although I seem to have been struck off their "knock" list - Perhaps I argue debate too well for them.

pagwatch · 22/04/2010 14:30

I was doorstepped by a member of the shadow cabinet and accidently showed him my tits.

I know I have told this story before but it still makes me and in equal measure

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