Finally!! A political canvasser has knocked on my door.

[GargoylesofBeelzebub]

Representative of a Labour candidate. He handed me a flyer and asked me what my thoughts were. I have been waiting for this moment for a LONG time!

I told him I would only be voting for candidates who recognised that the definition of a woman was someone of the female biological sex and would uphold the Supreme Court ruling.

He stood there grinding his teeth and said he had no idea what her stance on the matter was. 🙄 I expressed surprise given it’s a big topic in the news right now…

He denied it had ever cropped up and turned tail and ran.

I've lived in the same place for the past 40 years and I don't think I've been canvassed once. Perhaps they call when I'm out? But even the leaflets seem to come with the ordinary post.

And I always challenge them about their gender policies - and sometimes inform them, as I've had canvassers indicate that they weren't fully aware there was actual self-ID in Ireland, and that a man could just say he was a woman and he'd legally be a woman??

I'll bet there are plenty of people who would say the same in Germany, say.

I think a lot of people assume there will be an element of common sense somewhere in the process.

Many many years ago I was politically active and canvassed. Politics were never discussed on the doorstep it was just about identifying your voters so you could encourage/harass them to vote on polling day. All the parties were doing the same thing.

Women’s rights & children’s safeguarding.

Ok that four words - four very important words.

I had our local labour councillor round the other day. I told him I wasn’t sure who I’d be voting for but it definitely wouldn’t be labour because of their woeful position in women’s rights.

He told me that since the High Court judgement no men go in women’s spaces. It just doesn’t happen. And if it did then women only need to call the police and the transwoman would be removed because men in women’s spaces is against the law. It simply doesn’t happen though.

So that’s ok.

True. And every one impacted by the trans debate. Which is why I use that term.

I guess he’s never heard of Southwark Council, then …

If canvassers do not care about "Women and Safeguarding"
( got your three words @Dietcokey )

their candidates deserve to lose.

My house is blacklisted by all parties because I ask questions before giving my voting intention.

Politicians saying that "single sex spaces" do not come up on the doorstep
are lying

Blacklisted is a bit strong. But if canvassers really have stopped knocking on your door on purpose it's not because of your views. It's because you talk about your views! No matter what your views are, you only get one vote. Spending ten mins debating with you will only get me a maximum of one vote, whereas if I ignore you and knock on ten doors I might lose your one vote but pick up three others.

Women's right to single sex spaces should not be up for debate. Firstly, it's the law and secondly, it's essential for 51% of the population to safely participate in public life.

If someone reframes basic women's rights as something to do with men then that tells you something about them quite forcefully.

Just imagine if a canvasser kept going on about 'all lives matter' when a black voter was trying to talk about racism they'd experienced. That would be the same thing.

The 'trans debate' thing (more correctly, women's fight to retain their legal rights) may only come up sporadically in the rUK but here in Scotland, you'd have to be of the eyes closed, fingers in ears, humming a happy tune variety to not be aware of the near constant media coverage. In the past two weeks, there has been articles, comments and questions asked in Parliament about the prison judicial review, toilets in schools and Sturgeon's ongoing crusade to tout her shite book by declaring that anyone who disagrees with her is a bigot.

There's a handy table being compiled on Scottish twitter in regards how each political party voted on - the UnBuyable Bill, the GRR and the Forensic Medical Examiner Services Bill. I will be using that as a handy reference in terms of political party's baseline views on women's rights when doorsteppers come to call. In fairness, I will make an exception for those MSPs who voted against party whips on these issues.

So basically, what canvassers are looking for is 'are you going to vote .....?' , 'no' (shuts door) or 'yes, big fan!'

You're not the slightest bit curious as to why constituents in that area are deciding not to vote for a party? It seems like an ideal opportunity for political parties/possible elected representatives to find out about the concerns of their constituents and to try to win hearts and minds, rather than thinking 'ah, fuck it' and then being surprised when they get gubbed at the elections.

He did better than the Lib Dem candidate who bowled up to my door asking if he could rely on my vote.
Me: I'm concerned about the rights of women and girls.
Could you tell me what you think a woman is?
LD: Well its a very complex and multi factoral issue.
Me: Do you think a trans woman is a woman.
LD: Absolutely.
Silence ensued and he was unable to maintain eye contact.
He backed away and sloped off red faced with his tail between his legs (quite literally).

Politicians use trans debate / issues and often they’re a short hop from using culture wars which is worse.

It’s a way to minimise and say it shouldn’t matter to women. Sex based rights is 51% after all, maybe why it’s not the preferred term for some.

Obviously politicians rarely listen, especially to women, but they have learnt at various points we vote and we can impact outcomes.

I suppose it depends on what the party asks for in response. It looks like they want to know if they’ve got a vote and not much else.

I agree they could use it to hear people but maybe they only listen when they lose. Eg Labour suddenly realising people were talking about the WFA after the local elections. They only thought hang on because they lost as much as they did.

If they do as badly or worse next time I wonder what they’ll realise.

There are lots of ways to find out what people's concerns are. Surveys and surgeries are the biggest two. And there are ways to win hearts and minds too (leaflets being the obvious one in local campaigns). But when it comes to canvassing it is really only about finding voter intention, yes. And the more people you debate with, the fewer you talk to overall.

I just checked the surgery dates and times for my local MSPs. All weekday day times. Very useful. Emails encouraged (but we've seen what staffers of various MSPs do with difficult ones). Or they're just ignored. That's why the write to them website checks in to see if you've actually received an answer.

Surveys - it would be interesting to find out how participants are selected for these. Anyone here ever been selected? Or is it when someone jumps at random likely looking randos outside the constituency office?

Leaflets - well, the last one I received was certainly very pretty. Bit light on actual manifesto details.

But, speaking to actual people on their own doorstep to gain actual information is just not viable....

....'oh no, we lost by a vast amount! What could have possibly happened! All the voters we spoke to agreed with us!'

There are lots of ways to find out what people's concerns are. Surveys and surgeries are the biggest two. And there are ways to win hearts and minds too (leaflets being the obvious one in local campaigns).

I do lots of surveys*, on multiple platforms to earn a bit of extra cash, This week I've done the same survey about Scottish politics at least 3 times. I'm essentially honest but sometimes I mix my answers up a bit e.g. put "slightly agree" instead of "strongly agree" or "neither agree or disagree" so my answers aren't always carbon copies. Assuming there are others like me, survey results may be skewed.

Campaign leaflets go straight in recycling. Party Political Broadcasts get turned over before I even hear what party they're for.

*Online, I've never been asked in person.

Yes but it would be performing a public service to at least pretend to listen to what people care about for ten minutes.

Womens rights to single sex spaces?

The grooming of vulnerable children into a body modification ideology?
The unnecessary medicalisation of children?

I'm sorry none are very snappy.

I just don't even know what I would say to the Greens. It might call for a ten minute session of interpretive dance while wearing sackcloth and ashes and eating raw onion.

I haven't seen a canvasser yet, and don't know if I will. I'm in the kind of area where Labour haven't needed to canvass for generations (and the CLP has been in special measures for years because corruption), so I suspect they're out of practice.

But the alternative locally will be some form of Gaza Independent, so I have no idea what I'll do with my vote.

What did Labour rely on after the last local elections to say WFA was a reason?

Apparently it came up at the door, that was the narrative anyway. How did they get to that conclusion?

If they heard that coming up is there any way info gets back to the party

So basically when political parties talk about what does and doesn’t crop up on the doorstep it’s actually misleading because their canvassers are not supposed to be listening and it sounds like they don’t actually feed back everything that’s being said to them. Just their interpretation of what’s important. Just political spin. Disgraceful.