At the very excellent meeting in Luss last night one of our regular canvassers made the point that, with the best will in the world, many of our leaflets end up in the re-cycle bin along with all the other bumph we get through the letterbox – unread and unloved? His point was, that actually talking to people was by far the best and most effective tool. I totally agree and that got me thinking.
Talking to people is one-on-one and is seriously limited by volume and the time available – nevertheless, the YES Campaign have done, are doing and will do a lot, lot more talking to people.
Years ago, on a bus with my mum in Glasgow, a wee old woman got on at Whiteinch. She sat next to my mum, despite there being lots of other seats. She looked around, then after a pause, turned and said to my mum, ‘that’s me got ma bus pass’. The conversation was now open and my mum, a highly acclaimed gab was out of the blocks, full steam. The two of them had dispensed with their life stories, their ailments, their politics and their hopes for the future by the time we got off at Partick Cross.
That’s how we roll in Glasgow, and in Scotland. Suddenly, I realised how powerful a concept.
In London it could not be any more different. If your building was on fire, I could see someone run through a floor of people sitting at their desk and think, ‘Mm, don’t really know these people, maybe just leave it for now. In Glasgow that would be a FIRE, FIRE, … GET OOT, GET OOT!
If any of you have watched the brilliant Still Game you will have experienced the eternal wag, ISA opening conversations with ‘that’s me …….’ Brilliant.
So here’s the thing, When we speak to anybody about the referendum, whether they declare themselves as a YES or even ‘Undecided but thinking about it’, we must impress upon them to talk to others they know, tell them about their experience, ask them to continue the conversation. Do what we are best at …. talking to each other. ITS A GIFT!
I know it’s obvious and I know we all know it, but it worth continuously reminding ourselves. So, my message for the campaign is simply this:
‘THAT’S ME …. I’M A YES NOW’