In one of their interesting experiments (urging a Lib-Dem vote, supporting eugenics in the 1920s), The Guardian has shipped David Marr to the UK to give a forensic take on the general election.
How’s it going? Well it ain’t CSI:UK election. Where are the protesters, David wondered, perhaps stepping outside his hotel in the morning?
“Shouldn’t St James’s Square have been packed with demonstrators, with tulips trampled and police horses holding back the crowds? Where were the banners and loud speakers? Something big is happening here. A kingdom is at stake. But to this visitor’s eye, these mute demonstrators seem to catch the mood of the 2015 campaign … Much of the time, an election seems hardly to be happening at all.”
St James? In W1? The most expensive and deadened piece of real estate in Europe? Is it possible that people who care passionately either way about the union are out … campaigning in marginal electorates?
Apparently not, but Marr has suggestions. “What about a march, a rally, politicians rousing their troops in town hall meetings?”
Town Hall meetings? You mean like a hustings? Well a list of them by day is available at www.meetyournextmp.com.
Here’s this evening’s list of 48: Cambridge Anglia Ruskin SU – Parliamentary Hustings, Norwich South Arts and Culture – The Political Debate, Glenrothes General Election Hustings with the Courier, Telford Telford hustings, Edinburgh East Hustings for Edinburgh East Constituency, Sunderland Central Made in Tyne and Wear – Sunderland Central, Dwyfor Meirionnydd Dwyfor Meirionnydd Hustings at Criccieth, Dundee West Dundee Housing Hustings, Darlington Hustings, Sefton Central Hustings organised by Methodist Church, Middlesbrough Middlesbrough “Question Time” Election Hustings, Morecambe and Lunesdale Morecambe and Lunesdale husting: final chance to quiz your candidates, West Tyrone West Tyrone Decides, Denton and Reddish Community and Voluntary Action Tameside, Croydon South Hustings, Hartlepool Hustings event, Clwyd West Brynhyfryd School, Ruthin, North Shropshire North Shropshire hustings at Oswestry Methodist Church Hall, Bristol North West Hustings, Preston Election Hustings – meet the candidates for Wyre and Preston North, New Forest East General Election Hustings on Tuesday 28th April at 7.30pm at Hythe & Dibden Parish Hall, West Street Hythe SO45 6AA, Poole Political Husting – Oakdale, Guildford Hustings, South Swindon Candidates hustings Question Time., New Forest West Hustings, Bassetlaw Worksop Election Hustings, Bristol South Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways Transport Hustings, Aberconwy Hustings, Chelsea and Fulham Chelsea & Fulham Constituency Hustings, Hackney North and Stoke Newington Election Hustings for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington at St Mary’s Church, Stoke Newington Church Street N16 9ES, Mid Dorset and North Poole Mid Dorset & North Poole Corfe Mullen Hustings, Tewkesbury Tewkesbury Constituency Election Hustings, BraintreeHustings, Worcester Hustings, Beckenham Public Meeting – Hustings, North West Hampshire Whitchurch Hampshire General Election Hustings, Skipton and Ripon Hustings, East Devon Vision Group for Sidmouth, North East Derbyshire, Churches Together in Dronfield and District Election Hustings, Oxford West and Abingdon Environmental Hustings meeting for Oxford West & Abingdon, Winchester Winchester Constituency: Church’s Together Winchester Hustings, East Hampshire All-candidate debate, Edinburgh South West Juniper Green, Hayes and Harlington Hillingdon Inter Faith Network, Basingstoke Hook General Election Hustings, Tonbridge and Malling HUSTINGS, Finchley and Golders Green Finchley and Golders Green Hustings: Hosted by London Jewish Cultural Centre
Pop along to one or two. Word to the wise — don’t ask about preference swaps. They… oh never mind …
You’ll find that one or two people are absolutely convinced an election is occurring. Primo digging, scoop.
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