Another day campaigning and putting up more flagboards after making some more with Debbie and Della’s help, after they had returned from Wickstead Park, replacing those that had been damaged, and hearing of the Tories having done their first canvassing but our statistics have us 200 votes ahead of them. Teacher’s pay is being capped as the House of Lords hears calls to moderate the new Education Reform Bill
Slept well enough and took my time showering and shaving this morning, so that I was late down to my breakfast of boiled duck egg. Started writing up my journal after, but was soon out of time! I had to rush over to Little Paxton Lane and replace one of my flag boards that had been topped. Then I gave up the car to Di and soon Marion Woodbridge arrived to help me canvass this morning. We went to Manor Close, Meadow Close and some of Grove Road, also managing those that were in in Bloomfield Close. A mixed bag this morning. Jeanette Green and some helpers have now been cold canvassing without leaflets and many of the electors are genuinely undecided. At 12.00 midday we were all set to call a halt, when I spotted Mr & Mrs Mason of Wantage Gardens in on the prime junction corner of Gordon Road with the High Street. We spent the best part of an hour chatting to them in order to get to know them and get permission for our boards!! Made my own salad lunch and, once Di had returned from taking the girls to Wickstead Park, I used the car to go to St Neots.
I collected my repaired shoes and then bought a dozen 7ft 1 ½” x 1 ½” softwood stakes and went home to make up more flag boards. I made points on the stakes with a chopper/hatchet and then repaired four old ones, made up four more to leave 4 more stakes for further incidents. Debbie and Daniella helped me knock in the nails, which was a bit hazardous, but I only hit my thumb once! Later, I went off to put up two boards on my prime site and a further two in Hayling Avenue. Home for tea and then out again doing Meadow and Manor Close ‘outs’, then finding more at home in the previously canvassed Lakefield Avenue. The Tories had been canvassing here, but had done us little harm. Home at dark, with the rain falling again, and then in for a discussion. Based on results so far, the harsh analysis gives me 688, Tories 498 and Labour 31. News tonight is of the teachers pay rise being limited to 4 ¼%, which seems certain to lead to a protest campaign of half-day strikes. This, as the House of Lords starts hearing pleas for moderation on the changes intended in the Education Reform Bill