09.05.2001

A candidate's diary

CPGB member Lawrie Coombs is the Socialist Alliance prospective parliamentary candidate for Stockton South

Thursday May 3 Within five minutes of arriving home from work I'm out canvassing. Got in a couple of hours. Met an older guy who had been in the Labour Party and promised his vote.

Friday May 4 The papers are full of speculation that the election is about to be called. Make final arrangements for delivery of election address by Royal Mail. This, and some other uninspiring, admin-type jobs, have to be done. Logged onto the internet. Had a giggle at some hostile Stalinists who have taken to likening this column to a Hello supplement for the Weekly Worker. They criticise my apparent lack of zeal, whilst themselves failing to lift a finger in the election. They want us to vote Labour! I eagerly await their next instalment.

Saturday May 5 May Day march and rally in Middlesbrough. We manage to sell well over 20 copies of the Weekly Worker - read by an assortment of comrades, including Arthur Scargill's team in Hartlepool. Highlight of the event was a phalanx of teenagers, who donated money to the alliance and wanted to get involved. After they took the Weekly Worker I questioned them on their politics, to which they replied they were "sort of communists". But they politically defined themselves first and foremost as punks! Furthermore they were into The Clash. I asked them what their position on New Wave was, to which they replied it "sucked" (ah, the ultra-leftism of youth).

Monday May 7 Election will surely be called tomorrow. Spoke to comrades up the road in Sunderland about their forthcoming meeting to launch an SA in the town. The bandwagon rolls on.

Tuesday May 8 The hare is on the move! Phoned the town hall and made arrangements to get hold of nomination papers. Collected relevant documents and received timetable. We're on our way! My good friend Steve turns up from London. Sinking a good few pints on a beautiful warm evening, we discuss the world away - and I get the rare chance to hear a southern accent.