Local Labour councillor canvassing

[TeamGames]

I almost feel bad for the man, a local Labour Party councillor came canvassing at my door tonight and after his spiel about local issues, I raised the fact it was a shame that I felt I couldn't vote for Labour as the Party is no longer supporting 'all women shortlist's' and have frankly throw women under the bus. He called me a cis women and we had a polite debate about it, but he looked totally thrown and not what he was expecting from his evening canvassing for votes, on local trash issues. He told me he'd never thought about women in sports and how trans women fit into that and asked me why shouldn't trans women who commit a crime go a women's prison.

I gently explained a few points and he walked away after very dismayed. To me this is the biggest problem, people are not engaging their brains to think about how this law would affect areas of their lives they are not familiar with, for him that was sport, for someone else it could be school places or guides, and inevitably someone brings up the bathroom issue. But these are real areas of concern that need to be address before things become law.

I'm not sure why I'm posting, there are much bigger issues on this board eg Emma Healy but I needed to vent as general population don't seem to engage their brains! It felt oddly liberating to finally say things out loud.

Well done! I haven't had any canvassers so far but hoping to be able to have some chats if anyone shows up.

It's actually really important and just as important as any other discussion going on today. You made him think, he will go back to his office and tell other people and if enough people make the same comments it might just make a difference.

I used to love it when the religious groups would come to my door and could have some interesting conversations with them. it was never my intention to make them feel bad about their beliefs, but to point out some of the mistruths - as you say, in a gentle way.

We all need to engage in politics more.

I really want someone, anyone from any party, to knock on my door so I can do the same OP. 👍

I'd been waiting for someone to come canvass so I could say something. He said I was I was the only person who'd brought this up.

That's great! We need to keep having the conversation

I had a "chat" with a labour lady at our door too. She hadn't a clue. About any of the implications and possible (probable?) repercussions of all this.

I highlighted a few (could have gone on for hours, thanks to you lot!) key points, and she was genuinely shocked and said she agreed 100%.

And then said I should join another party (i.e, not labour who she was canvassing for!!) that would be sympathetic to this "news", and fight strongly to make it more widely known...

I pointed out that time is running somewhat short and nobody seems to want to listen, but assured her I was not the only one to be thinking these things.

Are they all this clueless though?! Does nobody have a clue what they are themselves pushing forwards?!

This is a big issue

Only MPs will be voting on the GRA change. They should be our focus.

You did exactly what is needed

Ahh! I know if someone from LP canvasses at my door (unlikely) I'll be tongue tied. Like when a Tory canvassed at my door for Boris as mayor saying he was a very nice man and I shut the door shouting "he's not" and ran away in my own house !

I can't believe he called you a cis woman!!!

@Elletorro I agree that the focus needs to be on "big" players but I've had some small successes with bringing it up with "randoms" mostly in a softy softy way of point out the ridiculous and letting them finish the critical thinking part. I just wanted this man who came to my door to pitch me his electability to apply some thought before he joined (or not) my local council. A position which while local is still of influence. Ultimately people make up political parties and people can change them.

He said something like " I believe trans women are women and people like you cis women should be more about intersectionality... bla bla bla". I offered to the point of view that I am not "cis" anything I am a women and I believe that women officers need to be "natal" (bleh term) women. It went on from there.

I do rather wish I had had this chat with the Tory people I saw canvassing but sadly the moment passed too quickly.

I raised the subject with a LibDem canvasser last week. He admitted he didn't know anything about it and promised to look into it. Then...nothing. So I still am stuck finding someone to vote for that actually gives a shit.