Well, I survived my first hustings in tact. It was a lively event and was my first opportunity to meet a couple of the other candidates, including the venerable Ms Abbott. Oops, sorry, I meant vulnerable – given that I’m biting at her heels to take the seat of Hackney North & Stoke Newington 
.
A wide range of issues cropped up, from empowering community groups to who our political philosophers were. I answered that last question perhaps more honestly than I should have. The others reeled off their lists of philosophers, and when I got to me, I held my hands up and said I just don’t have a list of historical figures or philosophers I look to in that way. I reminded the audience of a question I’d been asked a couple of weeks ago, “what’s your favourite political film?”. I guess I could have done a bit of research to find a film that sounded good, but I answered honestly. It’s Erin Brockovich. If you’ve never seen it, it’s not really a political film per se, but a (true) story about an unemployed single mother who gets a job as a clerk in a law firm, and ends up fighting – and winning – a massive case against a corporate giant which poisoned a town’s water supply.
Anyway, it probably made me stand out as a bit silly, not quoting directly from John Stuart Mill or something, but there we go.
The rather embarrassing moment occurred 15 minutes before the event was originally due to end, because that’s when Diane Abbott turned up. No apology, and started with a joke about not being able to hang around after, because of her TV appearance on This Week, saying to the audience “so if I look haggared on TV later then it’s your fault!”. I would have thought that, having been MP for 23 years, she’d have picked up enough on the doorsteps of Hackney North and Stoke Newington to know that the one common response to her weekly appearances on This Week is that people would rather she spent less time on her media career and more as a constituency MP.
I admired the Tory candidate. Toryville Hackney is not, however, he absolutely stuck to his principles when responding to questions, so good for him.
There was one thing all four of us agreed on (me, Diane, the Tory and the Green) after the meeting had finished. It’s pretty poor that this is the only hustings we have in our diaries at the moment.
28 March 2010 at 9:01 am |
[...] No longer a hustings virgin – Keith Angus campaigning in Hackney North [...]
29 March 2010 at 7:50 am |
I certainly agree that Diane’s speech was odd – surely she must be aware that people are pretty irritated with her outside earnings? It was particularly strange as she spent the first couple of minutes defending herself on expenses, only to then explain how she was off to do her second job….
Certainly agreed on the need for more hustings – cross fingers that some are put together, and I look forward to more debate.
Matt
20 April 2010 at 8:12 pm |
Where was the hustings advertised? I like to think I follow politics to a certain extent and I wasn’t even aware that this event was to take place. I would very much like the opportunity to see and hear the candidates who are competing for my vote in Hackney North & Stoke Newington.
20 April 2010 at 8:41 pm |
It was for the local Tenants and Residents Association. However, an open hustings is taking place on Tuesday 27th April at 7pm at Millfields Community School (hosted by Hackney Friends of the Earth). Do come along if you can – and hear from all the main parliamentary candidates. Best wishes, Keith.