Raymond, I tried to knock on every door in the ward (although the gated developments proved difficult). I wanted to engage with every resident and I tirelessly responded to every single email that I received from individual residents.I had my father (a 60 year old) and mother (with arthritis) deliver leaflets and we heavily canvassed most of the ward. I did want it. On the doorstep, I believed that local elections were not about ideology but a more organic, consultative and participative form of decision-making. Sadly, I was too naïve in believing that national issues (gay-marriage, benefit cuts, austerity, legal aid cuts, immigration etc) would not shape people's attitudes and when you only have 3 minutes on average at the doorstep with any given person, it is difficult. Trying to make an irrelevancy out of mainstream national issues on the doorstep only came across as patronising and ran the risk of sounding like a "politician" by making excuses. It often became a no-win situation. These are not excuses...just an explanation of one of many things which made conditions difficult.
Fadi Farhat ● 4092d