When I was canvassing in the referendum I quickly found I had a bit of an advantage on the doorsteps. As a blogger it was essential I researched my subjects and was prepared for the questions I was asked.
By contrast, I found there was an inconsistency amongst my fellow canvassers. Some were very good on the doorsteps while others were less well informed and nervous. This is not a criticism of the individual canvassers who ranked amongst some of the most dedicated people I have ever met.
In all my canvassing, around 6 months prior to the referendum, I did not attend a single session where questions and answers were prepared and refined. Leaflets were produced, some very good, but I was not about to stand on a doorstep and chant the contents of a leaflet.
I was not part of the referendum strategy team nor am I a member of the SNP. I am simply a passionate Scot (alright, Belgian Scot) who will do everything I can to support the SNP.
I believe it is essential that every canvasser has a good understanding of the General Election proposition, are well equipped to respond to reasonable questions and able to present a compelling argument to reinforce SNP voters, compel non-SNP voters to reconsider their choice and persuade those that have not yet made up their mind to give serious consideration to the SNP.
This is my simple aide memoire or crib sheet for canvassers. This is not a sheet to read from. This is a simple couple of pages of information and structure for canvassers to read at their leisure and may help them to structure their canvassing in a positive and confident manner. This is by no means a final or even a definitive piece, it is merely a prop to make canvassing less daunting for some. There will be lots of other material that could be included, However, I would urge everyone to discuss and agree their approach with their colleagues and groups. Consistency, must never be underestimated. We may think that each door is a unique experience – we must remember that friends and neighbours communicate and inconsistency is always seen as a weakness, whereas consistency is both strong and compelling:
Have you made up your mind who you will vote for on 7 May?
YES – SNP
- What persuaded you to vote for the SNP?
- Would you be able to persuade a friend or a neighbour – how could we help?
YES – Other
- What persuaded you to vote for Other?
- How well have they served Scotland in the past. For example, did you know that:
- Westminster claims the Scottish Government has many powers devolved – however, Scotland receives effectively ‘pocket money’ to carry out their responsibilities – they have no revenue raising powers.
- It was Jim Callaghan, Labour PM who failed to set up an oil fund for Scotland from 1975 when the oil first came ashore? At the same time Norway set up an oil fund with similar reserves making it the richest country in the world.
- By today’s values the North Sea has yielded £1.5 trillion in revenue – that is just slightly less than the UKs current debt
- MPs returned in Scotland influence the outcome at Westminster in ’55, ’64 and ’74 – never in more than 40 years. Labour has held a majority in Scotland every year since ’45 except ’55 when Tory/Lib coalition had a majority of 2. Scotland is outnumbered by 11 to 1.
- Scotland currently has 1 Tory MP – but ruled by a Tory Government
- How well have they served Scotland in the past. For example, did you know that:
2. Would you consider voting for the SNP?
1. The referendum was very final for a lot of voters and although they were persuaded by the YES campaign they felt it was too big a step. The General Election is a great opportunity to give the SNP a chance to show the people that the future of Scotland is safe in the hands of the Scottish people. There is nothing final about your vote – if they do not do a good job they can be voted out in 5 or less years. That is long enough to give them a chance to prove themselves.
2. During the referendum many topics were raised that were new to the people and most people had to take on trust what was being said. This included:
1. Continuing to use the pound
2. Our future in the EU
3. Scrapping Trident
No wonder people were nervous about the referendum question. However, these are not questions for the General Election and the outcome cannot influence these issues. This is another reason to give the SNP and the people of Scotland a chance to run their own affairs.
3. The Westminster based opposition parties criticise the SNP Government on their record in managing health and education within Scotland. The SNP made a number of Solemn Pledges to the people of Scotland that:
1. Education would be free to all
2. Health care would be free at the point of need
4. Perhaps the most compelling reason for giving SNP a chance is the rather ironic statement that they couldn’t make it much worse. This is not as silly as it sounds. Labour has been the substantial majority party in Scotland since 1945 (70 years – except 1955). In all that time Scotland has seen its industries wiped out, its infrastructure destroyed and its social welfare plunged into the dark ages. Its main asset gift, oil, has been snatched out of its hands and its key resources have been squandered. In all that time Labour in Scotland has done nothing to fight for a better deal for Scotland – highlighting the point that Labour in Scotland is actually a Westminster Trojan Horse!
SNP’s Record in Office:
Education has remained free for all. Contrast this with education in the rest of the UK. Students commit to a life of debt despite their parents having paid their taxes all their life.
Scotland’s NHS remains free at the point of need. Prescriptions remain free and even parking at the hospital remains free. Contrast this with the situation in the rest of the UK where prescriptions are charged by item and parking at hospital, especially in London, is extremely expensive and a lottery on prepayment to avoid penalties. Consider this, you find a parking space eventually. How much do you feed the meter? 3H/4H at £8/H. How long will you take? After 4H you are in your 3rd queue and you’re 20 minutes walk to feed the meter again – and for how long? welcome to London NHS.
Despite the rhetoric, waiting times in London hospitals are typically 6 – 7 hours. Times are distorted as patients are moved along waiting room conveyor belts without attention.
Clearly, there is much work to be done to improve healthcare in Scotland. The Westminster Parties point to the small percentage of areas where improvements can, and are, being addressed. They tell the people that the NHS in Scotland has been devolved to the Scottish Government. This is untrue. The Scottish Government is allocated a budget. That budget must address all aspects of running the country including health and education. In these austere times the Scottish budget has been cut year on years. The Government has consistently balanced its budget every year and made savings across the whole economy to keep their Vow on free education and healthcare.
NO
1. What obstacles are stopping you make up your mind?
2. What information would help you make up your mind?
3. How would you feel about giving your support to SNP for ONE TERM? Putting aside the SNPs aspirations for independence, their record on Health and Education has been impressive – especially when you consider they do not hold the purse strings. They have shielded the poor from the impact of the bedroom tax. Contrast this with the other main parties:
1. The Conservatives have 1 MP in Scotland, in the borders. They had a majority of 2 in coalition with the Liberals in 1955 (60 years ago). They have no mandate in Scotland and NO voice.
2. The current LDems betrayed our young people by U turning on free education – our most fundamental need. LDems could have held the balance of power in the UK and achieved everything they sought without getting into bed with the Tories – such was their ambitions for power.
3. Worst of all, Labour in Scotland. They have held power in Scotland for 70 years. In all that time they have presided over the destruction of Scotland’s industrial base, infrastructure and social welfare. Their PM Jim Callaghan in 1975 blew the oil revenue for pennies on the barrel and failed to set up an oil fund that would have guaranteed investment in the future of our oil. In fact he was so incompetent that he caused the ‘winter of discontent’ that left the door open for Margaret Thatcher. But make no mistake, Thatcher simply continued the rotten policies of Labour that crushed the people of Scotland… Take one simple example – the bedroom tax. Labour did not even attend the vote in the House then lied about their involvement. Take another example; austerity. Labour have pledged they will continue the austerity programme if they were in office. Austerity is a principle. It basically demands that we SAVE our way to prosperity. This is a proven failed strategy. The only way to turn around the economy is to grow our way out. Perhaps this well tried method was discredited when Gordon Brown printed £385 billion through Quantitative Easing – only thing was he injected it into the Financial Markets who devoured it almost immediately, leaving around 12% to boost the economy? Would we ever trust Labour with the economy? Tories are no better, but they can be awful and still look better than Labour – and that is what we have all been experiencing for 5 years.
Unlike the Referendum, there has never been a better time to give the SNP Government a chance at real representative power in Scotland. Some people have said that the NO voters let their country down. They did not. In the main they exercised caution and felt the risks were too great. None of these risks prevail in the General Election – this is an opportunity for those who did not vote for independence to prove to their country and themselves that they are no less Scottish and no less patriotic than any of their fellow Scots.
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