The Rock Blog

Throughout the London Mayoral campaign CF members have made a real contribution to its success.

With the race entering the final stages we have been asked to help make the final push to aid Boris in his fight with Ken “Leaving-soon”. To that end, we are going to be holding two National Days for CF members from all over the country to come and campaign alongside the man himself – come along and Back Boris!

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The first National Day, on Saturday, April 19th, will be run in a slightly different format; we will be campaigning in four areas* of London:

1) HILLINGDON (Herts & CF London North West members)
– Meet Hillingdon tube station (10:30am)

2) HIGHGATE (CF London Uni members & CF members from outside London)
– Meet Kentish Town tube station (10:00am)

3) HAVERING (CF London North East members)
– Meet Hornchurch tube station (11:30am)

4) CROYDON CENTRAL (CF London South members)
– Meet East Croydon train station (10:00am)

*5) There is also an LGB Tory ‘Back Boris’ event:
– BFI Southbank (11:00am)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Although we will be split into five groups during the day, we will all meet up together to finish the day (6:00pm onwards) at the SILVER CROSS pub, Whitehall. Map to pub: http://tinyurl.com/67k48j

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=15679491065

The second national day will be on the following Saturday, April 26th 2008. More details to follow!

During the CF elections I wrote in support of Boris Johnson 4 London Mayor and a pledge to have a national day to aid Boris in his campaign to get rid of Ken ‘Leaving-soon’. To that end, before we fully regionalise the national days, we will be holding 2 full days for CF members all over the country to come down and help Boris - both days will be a chance for you to campaign alongside the man himself!

It is vital that we get Boris elected on May 1st - part of the flow towards returning our Party to power. Full details on those two days to come soon - in the meantime watch Boris officially launching his campaign.

I don’t live in London so don’t have a vote in the upcoming Mayor of London elections. However, as I studied and work in London, I have seen first hand some of the problems that ‘Red’ Ken has created, exacerbated and not solved. Don’t even get me started on TFL!

The first time I went out canvassing for Boris was at Oxford Circus during the morning rush hour, where I dished out leaflets and the tremendously popular Oyster card holders (if you travel frequently in London, you basically don’t have a choice except to have an Oyster card…don’t get me started…!) It’s a great way to get the message across that the Conservatives are engaged in London issues.

I think Boris is the only Conservative who can outdo Ken in terms of personality and character. Whatever you think of Ken, I’m really not a fan in the slightest, he does connect with Londoners and has a high media profile. Boris can match that and is a great choice for the Conservatives, having the ability to engage people not usually involved in politics through sheer force of personality. I have been fortunate enough to hear Boris’ plans at some of his hustings and events. The substance is there to match the style. I am confident Boris can win and I know a huge amount of supporters and CF activists are helping with the campaign, particularly from the CLWCF branch and across the capital.

If elected, we will co-ordinate a campaign day to help Boris in his campaign. Depending on resources, we could make it a regional day or a national day. My instinct is to keep it as a regional event (for Area 6) but knowing the popularity of Boris amongst students, it might well be advertised across the country, depending on the feedback we get from the AC’s!

Rock4CF and Boris4London!

Lucinda Wilson is a Conservative Future member from Surrey.

Volunteering to help the Back Boris campaign is something I started doing a while before I became an active Conservative Future member. I have found it immensely enjoyable and extremely varied, you never know quite what to expect. From leafleting at train stations, to manning a stall at a university, even wearing a sandwich board outside city hall and being photographed in China Town giving out chocolate coins and welcoming in Chinese New Year.

The team is extremely friendly and always grateful for any time you can spare. The work often involves early starts, trying to catch commuters at peak times by the tube stations, and then evenings, when you try to get people on the journey home. There are social events organised for the volunteers as well, drinks at Boris HQ are a regular occurrence and we are always pumped full of coffee and breakfast if an early start is required.

The hardest thing to begin with for me was the sheer rudeness of people, some of whom don’t just refuse what you are offering them; they make insulting remarks about Boris and the campaign. Some have even made personal remarks about myself and my obvious political beliefs, being proudly displayed across my person on my Back Boris t shirt. As the weeks pass by I find myself becoming immune to the mutterings of passers by, I realised that if someone offered me a Red Ken oyster card holder in the street (not that such a thing exists) I would probably think something along their lines, but hopefully have the decorum to politely refuse.

I have now been made a Boris Team Leader, involving going to Boris HQ to collect the equipment (i.e. flyers etc) for the Action Event beforehand, leading a small team to flyer etc and being the contact on the ground for the event.

I give up my free time for Boris for the same reason I campaign for CF, because I want to see Boris as Mayor of London and a Conservative government in power. Watch out Ken, Barbie’s coming to get you!

Click here for information about “CF members that Rock!”