As usual on election days, I’m opening up this (rusty) blog to everyone today for you to report on what’s happening at polling stations in Tower Hamlets (and Newham if possible).
I think people will be interested in turnout compared with previous years — size, age — and any particular problems, e.g. intimidation, complaints etc.
(By the way, I’m still following the latest shenanigans in TH politics and will return to the fray soon… .)
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You have been missed.
Yeah, you have been missed! #wornout
I’ll echo Dan’s comment. I look forward to the day when you brush the rust off this blog and make it regular again.
Fairly quiet at my polling station, but it was early morning. It was noticeable that a number of women were being escorted by different men into the station.
P.S. Agreeing with other comments. This blog has been missed and is much needed. There is still much to report on to remove the rust!
The council “hotline” to report voter fraud isnt that hot. Out of 3 test calls, the first two were cut off after a confused staff member appeared not to be prepared to take calls or complaints. The Met police eventually revealed that they had a Single Point of Contact for anything to do with the election but it did not want contact details published. The line is unobtainable today and an alternative number cut you off after a brief unhelpful message.
It almost seems as though there is a deliberate policy by the Met and LBTH to make sure there are not too many complaints recorded. The Electoral Commission has congratulated the borough for the reforms introduced since 2015, so that cant be true.
We can look forward to the Mayoral and local councillor elections in May 2018 which are as corrupt as those held in 2014.
Yes, it’s next year which is going to be the most interesting. On first preferences last time Biggs wasn’t that far ahead and he has proved to be a spectacularly useless mayor. He seems to have an uncanny knack of upsetting people for no reason and is their any truth in the rumours of his specialist medical treatment?
Andy, what can be done?
Polling station at Harbinger Road (Isle of Dogs) ticking over calmly. Policeman at gate looked very bored. Some tape on pavement had me baffled – guess it’s the no-loitering zone.
Incidentally. There are 7 candidates for Poplar&Limehouse. At Isle of Dogs hustings last week, six of them showed up and offered themselves for scrutiny. Candidate Rahman failed to appear – which did not impress those of us who’d gone along.
It was all quiet apart from a few early voters on Beaumont Grove this morning before I went to work. There was a guy running up and down the street last night delivering leaflets for Ajmal Masroor claiming that he was on the verge of beating Rushanara, and a host of other dubious claims. hopefully, someone will complain about his election material….
Very quiet in Limehouse this morning, no shenanigans at all, in fact when I went in mid morning to vote I saw one policeman on duty outside, and one Asian couple leave when the female exited the Cruising Association where voting was for me, inside the Voting area I was the only one there, I spoke to the two people booking you in for a voting slip they said it had been very busy early morning, when I asked and I said I am sure it will pick up again when people come home from work
Our Lady and St Joseph Primary School polling station. Oliur Rahman giving out leaflets outside school boundaries to selected people. I requested a leaflet on leaving and queried why I hadn’t been given one on way in. She said she didn’t see me. Leaflets contains no information apart from telling people to put a X by her name and showing how this is done. Is this OK? This police woman looking bored too and on her phone. Reported leaflet to her.
Used to be like carnival day when we had elections there some years ago! Difficult to mange though.
* manage
Fairly quiet at the John Orwell Sports Centre polling station in Wapping at 6.30pm this evening. Saw a few people going in and out for the five minutes I stood outside and didn’t see any canvassers.
One of the police officers there told me there had been a steady flow during the day.
Everything seemed hunky dory at Mile End Road (Gateway Housing site). Three security staff, a PC and two officials. Steady trickle this morning and this evening. Both times just one canvasser (Labour) outside the hazard tape zone.
Inside none of the shenanigans I witnessed last election (twice I witnessed couples going into the booths together – the officials jumped up and shooed them into separate booths).
The person in front of me apparently lives in the house next door to me, but I’ve never laid eyes on him before 😉 Make of that what you will. Can wait for us to use ID next time. Long overdue.
Hi Ted. Lovely to here from you again. Glad to here you are opening up your Blog again. It is well missed. Tried to answer after reading last comments. But kept asking for a AUL No before I can send. Not the best on Computer Literacy. Ray.
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Just get an email address. That’s usually all you need.
Could someone contact me, in total confidence of course, about John Biggs’s sexual and mental problems?
http://www.themadmullahofbricklane@gmx.com.