We need Graf and Grafters

As my colleague Conor has pointed out, there is quite a lot of good news coming out of the latest Ashcroft polling for Labour.

But there are some worrying messages too. The polling in Southampton Itchen is much too close for comfort as was the Thurrock polling in a previous round.

Equally worry are the reports from voters of lack of activity they are seeing (or possibly noticing) from political parties. Only 16% are saying they have had any contact in the Tory marginals polled with that rising to 21% in the Labour held marginal seats. And the number appear to be the same for both parties.

That’s a worry. Now it may be that the Tories have glossy leaflets the voters have picked up on over actual contact. The question in the polling doesn’t distinguish between these.  The question is – do the voters?

As Gloria De Piero rightly said, the difference between the Tories and us is that while they have the bucks, we have the boots on the ground. Our membership is bigger and our activists more active. That is the story we like to tell ourselves. So why are the voters not reporting it back to us?

I think one answer is that we have slightly lost the ability to impact on voter consciousness. By using techniques that have served us well for donkey’s years we have become less expansive about other ways to have a conversation. As such we are not engaging the voter’s interest.

If I were asked the last time the Jehovah’s Witnesses had come to my door I couldn’t tell you. I know it was a while ago. I know it annoyed me. But I couldn’t tell you when or what it was they had to say. They preached at me. I gave my requisite polite but firm refusal and they went on to the next door while marking me down as “against”.

In many ways, I wish the Jehovah’s Witnesses did use Voter ID. Marking people down as “against” quite often means the end not the beginning of a conversation in Labour politics. We are all too frequently not evangelical enough. But we are equally unwilling to listen rather than preach!

I miss Arnie Graf. I thought he had some simple but effective ideas that both fired up our base and developed our conversational skills beyond boxes 1 and 3. Why we have allowed our relationship with this charming asset to atrophy is beyond me – get him back and quick smart say I.

But equally, let’s all think about what we can and should be doing to ensure a Labour victory that – it is clear from the Ashcroft polling – is in our grasp. Where can we help most? Where are we needed most? Where will Labour need to fight for every last vote and how soon can I get there?

Myself – I will be canvassing in Thurrock this Saturday. It’s an important marginal a short journey with a great candidate. There are plenty of seats like this up and down the country. Start off by looking at the list of our 106 target seats. Take a look, pick your closest and get there over the bank holiday! Or if you can’t the next weekend.

The next election is less than 40 weekends away. If you want to elect a government that is pledged to protect the NHS – get out there. If you want to elect a government that is pledged to build 200,000 new homes a year – get out there. f you want to elect a government that will repeal the Bedroom Tax – get out there.

Britain needs a Labour government. To achieve this, the Labour Party needs it’s activists grafting away and doing what we can do so well when we try – talking and listening to voters.

So in summary – get thee to a marginal!