Campaigning in Islington

It was great to meet with some more local candidates, I joined them along with Harriet Harman and Emily Thornberry, for some campaigning - and we really got a sense of how things are going for them.

Claudia Webbe was really positive, and said that Labour support is high on the doorsteps. Apparently local people are fed up with a lack of affordable housing under the Lib Dems.

The same sorts of issues were occupying Robert Khan, another local candidate, again emphasising that housing was the main issue occupying the area. He said there’s “a feeling that the Lib Dems are exhausted” and that the lack of direction stemming from that was causing problems for local residents. The Labour Group's policy initiative on free school meals, which is being supported by the Government was also going down really well. With the Liberals opposing it, Labour were picking up even more support.

Troy Gallagher (yes, you guessed it – another candidate) picked up on the free schools meal policy as just adding to the sense that the Lib Dems just aren’t listening. Drugs and security are a big issue, with more CCTV cameras needed, but it’s only really Labour who are offering the support that local people are asking for on this.