It looks as if campaigners in the Barnhill by-election are going to have one sunny day before polling takes place on Thursday and I will be out and about all day today.
A certain camaraderie developed yesterday when I encountered Labour canvassers on Chalkhill with us all dressed as if for an ascent of a rain and windswept Welsh mountain. Soggy leaflets are even worse when printed with environmentally friendly vegetable based ink on recycled paper!
Although I have seen their leaflets I have still not encountered one Conservative canvasser which makes them rarer than a Boris bus.
As always when canvassing in Brent I am struck by the tremendous variation within one ward. However there are surprises such as the resident in a mock-Tudor villa at the top of Barn Hill who spoke out in favour of squatting as a way of protecting some of the empty properties in the area from deterioration.
On the Chalkhill Estate I encountered some real militancy against the Tories based on national issues and there was often a residual reflexive support for Labour until we got into a discussion about the Labour council's record.
Contrasting images of Barnhill ward
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| Making the most from small garden on Chalkhill |
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| Sunday morning waiting for ASDA to open |
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| Mock Tudor on Barn Hill Estate |
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Fly-tipping on Chalkhill Estate
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Front garden, Shakespeare Drive
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Bluebells on Barn Hill
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| The site of the proposed Chalkhill Park |
