Preparing for the big day

posted by: Nick | on: Tuesday, 29 January 2008, 09:27

Yesterday it suddenly dawned on me that the launch of our London election website was only a week away. Slightly concerned I spoke to our designer who told me that in no uncertain terms could not stop the countdown clock on our website so it looks like my next few days will be working flat out getting the site together.

On a more serious note, I hope you will like it. We really believe that the Internet offers our London campaign a completely new dimension but it will only work to its true capacity if people use it.

This past week has been hectic. Sorry for not posting more regularly but it seems to have been non-stop. I went up to Sheffield last Thursday where I met our friends at Hope not Hate Yorkshire. We were putting the finishing touches to our campaign strategy, which has not been easy given the turmoil inside the BNP up there. It was good to be back up in Sheffield. I lived there for five years. Much has changed but much is as it always was.

The next day I was in the East Midlands, where I was meeting officers from Unite the union. We were actually discussing the 2009 European Elections, how's that for forward planning.

There was no let up over the weekend. There was our February edition of Searchlight to finish and sign off and I also spent quite a bit of time taking photos for our forthcoming London campaign.

Sunday was Holocaust Memorial Day and a moment to remember the horrors of the last century. I have to admit that past events have passed me by but this year I have kept a closer eye on what has been going on. This is largely due to my recent trip to Rwanda. I've probably mentioned this before but it is incredible to see a country returning to 'normal' so soon after the genocide. It really does highlight the bad and good in human nature and our capacity to overcome the odds.

It is this strength of purpose that we all need to take us through these next few months, especially in regard to the London elections.