John O'Farrell for Eastleigh

Politics? You're all the same.

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:50:00 +0000

Today I took off my rosette and went and visited Southampton General Hospital which serves Eastleigh. It’s way outside the constituency, so I wasn’t there asking anyone for votes. But the invitation was there, a Labour big wig was going so I said sure, I’d like to see it too.

The doctors were keen for us to help counter the ignorance about rheumatoid arthritis in children. As it happens I knew a little bit about this because decades ago, my mum worked at a centre specialising in this field at the Canadian Memorial Red Cross Hospital at Cliveden. Sometimes, children with rheumatoid arthritis came for treatment from abroad and my mum would put the families up at our house. I remember the shock I felt when a boy from India I had got to know died a year or so later.

But survival rates have improved vastly since the 1970s, and much of the leading research has been done in the UK. Today there was an air of optimism in the wards, the facilities were world class and the health service has got much better at identifying the symptoms early on.

I was introduced to parents who had been sitting beside their children’s beds for weeks on end, who were so positive about the treatment their children were getting. Grandmothers were taking turns with their daughters, some children had both parents with them the whole time. Nothing makes me as emotionally wobbly as kids laughing and chatting even though they have been on drips and harnesses for weeks on end. (I should emphasise, we didn’t just march up to people; the hospital had checked which families would like to talk to us about their experiences).

But the whole couple of hours confirmed my absolute belief in the necessity of politics. And as you would expect me to say, for the side I support. Of course I didn’t say it to anyone present, but I thought that this facility has come about, and been built, staffed and funded because of politics. Because people campaigned for better health care, and elected the politicians who wanted to make it free and available to everyone at the point of delivery.

Some people change the world by becoming doctors and nurses, and do wonderful things every day. And others are in the business of trying to make sure these people are properly funded and supported along with all the other things that a civilised society requires; decent housing, schools and maybe the survival of a threatened local library.

In the United States, there are families like the ones I met today, who pray to their God that no further tests are needed, that no blood transfusions will be required, that the patient will not be instructed to stay overnight – because each of these things would be itemised on a bill at the end of the course of treatment. I think having a child with rheumatoid arthritis would probably be worrying enough, without the prospect of losing your family home to pay for your son or daughter’s treatment.

Yet there are people in this country who think that the American model is the direction we should pursue with our own health service. I am fully aware of mistakes that were made by Labour during its years in government. But the funding pumped into the Health Service was massive, local health centres were transformed and there was a party in power whose philosophy ensured a cast iron certainty that the health service free at the point of delivery.

All the maddening leaflets through the doors back here in Eastleigh are actually all about this. All the attempts to get the right sound-bite on the news, to avoid a gaffe or look well-informed at a local hustings; that, I’m afraid is the circus in which the winners gets to decide the fate of the families in the ward I visited today. I’m sorry it appears so cynical, so corrupt and self-serving. But that is the rules that have been presented, and to some degree created by us. I’d love it if we could all be completely honest, fallible, un-sure about some of the right answers, but we would be destroyed by the electoral news cycle, and the other lot would win.

I have failed to persuade some voters here that politics isn’t just that stuff on the news and the leaflets through your door. It’s your kids’ school, it’s the lighting in your street, it’s the pot holes in the pavement, the aircraft carrier that does or doesn’t have aircraft and the local hospital that is opened or closed.

All this stuff has to be decided by somebody, and I think it’s worth making sure those people have the right values and priorities. Now I’m going out to deliver more last minute leaflets and tomorrow I’ll be knocking on as many doors as possible. There are doorbells telling us to ‘Fuck Off’. But you just keep going because you think it’s important.

Some of the staff I met today are here (it’s seems clichéd to say they are wonderful, but it’s true). There is also more information about rheumatoid arthritis.

Pushwinder: "I want an MP who will look after me and my family"

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:55:16 +0000

Election Day is almost upon us and Pushwinder knows who she will be casting her ballot for tomorrow:

“I want an MP who will look after me and my family; not millionaires and bankers. The Lib Dems and Conservatives just don’t understand how difficult things are at the moment.”

Only a vote for Labour tomorrow will send a message to this Tory & Lib Dem government that things have to change.

A couple of days ago we wrote about Louise, one of our most...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:26:15 +0000

A couple of days ago we wrote about Louise, one of our most dedicated activists here in Eastleigh about why this election is so important for her and her family.

A day hasn’t gone by without Louise dropping into the campaign centre to make calls, to deliver leaflets or to knock on doors for John. We wanted to speak with her again and talk about why this campaign has inspired her and others to get involved now and in the future.

Watch this, then come out and help us in the final stretch. Call us on 07872 417222 or sign up here

Today was a busy day for the campaign here in Eastleigh,...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:31:00 +0000

Today was a busy day for the campaign here in Eastleigh, welcoming both Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper to Eastleigh and a lot of volunteers too!

Ed visited the Hendy Motor Group to talk jobs and growth with a thriving local business and Yvette helped unveil our ad-van that highlights our clear message: vote Labour to send a wake up call to this Tory-led government.

We have just two days to go. If you’ve got time to give, now really is the time to give it: http://bit.ly/YcJ7Op

A #LibDemSwitcher deciding to vote Labour this Thursday

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:03:33 +0000

Bishopstoke West #Labourdoorstep Mrs Hosier now ‘voting with her heart’ 4 #Labour . @mrjohnofarrell #LibDemSwitchers twitter.com/Rae_MS/status/…
— Rae Martin-Smith (@Rae_MS) February 26, 2013

Today we launched our ad-van that will be touring the...

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:12:39 +0000

Today we launched our ad-van that will be touring the constituency for the final few days of the campaign.

The message is simple: Tories? Lib Dem? They’re just the same now.

The only way to send a message to the Tory and Lib Dem Government is to vote for John O’Farrell this Thursday.

Martyn and Justine: "This Thursday, we'll be voting with our hearts"

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:22:19 +0000

We bumped into Martyn and Justine out on the doorstep and wanted to know whether they had made their minds up on how they’d be voting this Thursday. They have, they’ll be voting Labour.

Why? Well for Martyn and Justine it’s simple; they are voting Labour because they will be voting with their hearts. Here in Eastleigh voters are switching from Lib Dem to Labour because a tactical vote in 2010 landed them with a Tory led Government propped up by Lib Dem votes. Join Martyn and Justine on Thursday and vote with your heart.

With just three days til Election Day, we need your help on the doorstep. Just a couple of hours will make all the difference.

On Thursday, Vote Labour.

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:06:21 +0000

In #Eastleigh today campaigning for @mrjohnofarrell in the by-election here #LabourDoorstep twitter.com/Mr_Slater/stat…
— Jack Slater ✩ (@Mr_Slater) February 25, 2013

“The blue trees don’t care about people like us” “That’s...

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:20:00 +0000

“The blue trees don’t care about people like us”

“That’s what my son Kit heard from children in the playground at school last week and it’s what I’ve been hearing from parents at the school gate and from voters on the doorstep too. I’ve lived in Eastleigh for 13 years, and I know the concerns of many of the families here, because they are my concerns too. I’ve had lots of conversations on the doorstep with former Lib Dem voters who are switching to Labour because this time, for the first time, they’ll be voting with their hearts.

“Eastleigh has been swept into the spotlight over the last few weeks and it’s amazing to see the momentum that we’ve seen from volunteers. The campaign has brought my whole family together, from door knocking with my mum and my three children, through to my husband building our 6 foot by 4 foot “Vote Labour” signs in the front garden. I want people to know that Labour are working hard here, I want people to feel the buzz that I feel when I’m out talking to voters.

“For years the people of Eastleigh have been told that “Labour can’t win here” but we are going out and meeting voters because we know that’s not true. Whatever the result on Thursday, when the journalists and cameras have left and Eastleigh is no longer in the spotlight, we will continue to fight hard for Eastleigh. The Labour Party won’t be going anywhere.

“We have four days til polling day. With canvass sessions and leaflet rounds running everyday til Thursday, there’s always something you can do. Give us a call 07872 417222 or sign up here.

“I can’t wait to see you on the doorstep.”

- Louise, volunteer

Still time to join our early evening blitz (no fancy dress required)

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:10:10 +0000

5 days out from poll incredible #Labour campaign team still blazing across #Eastleigh with @mrjohnofarrell #Goteam twitter.com/Rae_MS/status/…
— Rae Martin-Smith (@Rae_MS) February 24, 2013

Super Saturday is coming to a close and what a super Saturday...

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 19:03:51 +0000

Super Saturday is coming to a close and what a super Saturday it’s been. We’ve had bus loads of activists (literally) helping kick off the final weekend of action before polling day. Balloons were pumped, voters were contacted and garden stakes were distributed. It’s been a busy day and we’ll be doing it all again tomorrow. Why not join us?

Britain's economy downgraded: We need a change of course

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 11:46:09 +0000

#LabourDoorstep has kicked off here in #Eastleigh!

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 10:53:00 +0000

Let the leafletting begin! #labourdoorstep #eastleigh with @steve_race_123 @doylematthew instagr.am/p/WEjGz9k0a6/

February 23, 2013

Heading to #Eastleigh now to join @mrjohnofarrell, @eastleighlab and lots of others on the #labourdoorstep for final pre-election weekend!

February 23, 2013

On train with @youngfabians to campaign in Eastleigh by-election. #labourdoorstep

February 23, 2013

Off to Eastleigh with friends from AldershotLab Partyto campaign for @mrjohnofarrell with @keithdibs @annamtownsend #labourdoorstep

February 23, 2013

We have canvass sessions running all weekend. Sign up to join us!

Did you miss yesterday's Radio 5 Live debate?

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:32:00 +0000

Did you miss yesterday's Radio 5 Live debate?:

Don’t worry, the Tory candidate did too.

You can catch up with it here

Attention weekend volunteers!

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:15:51 +0000

To the hundreds coming to campaign 4 Labour this weekend, please bring tinned or dried food for #Eastleigh food bank which ran out last week
— John O’Farrell (@mrjohnofarrell) February 22, 2013

It’s midday and these students from Warwick University are about to head out for their second...

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 12:14:01 +0000

It’s midday and these students from Warwick University are about to head out for their second canvass session of the day.

They decided to make the trip from Warwick this morning to play their part in the final push and they’ve already had some great responses on the doorstep.

Help us in the final week, volunteer today

Tweet of the Day: #LibDemSwitchers

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:47:01 +0000

Former Lib Dem cllr standing proudly under her new @uklabour stake for @mrjohnofarrell #eastleigh yfrog.com/nzegxmzj
— Teddy Ryan (@teddyryan89) February 21, 2013

Just 7 days left to make a difference!

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:43:00 +0000

Just 7 days left to make a difference!

Volunteer Spotlight: Ryan, "I strongly believe that the Labour Party is on my side"

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:48:24 +0000

“Election Day 1997: I was an enthusiastic 10 year old waving my Labour Party flag until my arm went numb. Things haven’t changed much. At 26 I’m still waving my Labour Party flag, this time, it’s for John O’Farrell.”

“I guess you could say I’m a seasoned campaigner. There’s nothing I like more than talking to people on the doorstep, getting to hear their stories and getting to share mine. I’m involved because I strongly believe that the Labour Party is on my side and on the side of my disabled wife and my two children. Things aren’t easy for us right now, sometimes I don’t eat dinner so my kids get to eat. This isn’t right but I know how it can get better. We need more politicians who are on our side, who put their constituents before their careers. I really believe that John O’Farrell is that man. That’s why I’m giving up 10 hours of my day, 7 days a week from now until Election Day, to do all I can to get him elected.”

“Just a couple of hours of your time will really make a difference. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer like me or a fresh face, we’d love to see you through our door.”

Volunteer

The Eastleigh Derby: Edging closer to the finish lineSign up and...

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:33:00 +0000

The Eastleigh Derby: Edging closer to the finish line

Sign up and volunteer for the final week of the campaign