Electioneering on the Respect bus today was a heartening experience. First of all I learned that I can no longer consider myself the worst dancer in the northern hemisphere. I’m the second worst. Elementary solidarity prevents me from identifying the title holder. The other revelation was the warmth of the reception that the bus got in south London.
Apparently a change in European law means that people who live in south London can now vote in English elections, an area that has not been considered Respect territory. Today’s route took us through Trafalgar Square, past Downing Street, into Sothwark, Brixton, Camberwell, Lewisham and that part of the world.
Like most socialists of my acquaintance waving, smiling and giving thumbs up to random pedestrians while standing on the top deck of an open top bus does not come naturally. Bluntly put – you can feel downright stupid. My right arm last week was aching having given no pleasure at all. This week was different. Waving a flag occupies the hands and gives the waver a pleasantly heroic vanguardist sensation.
There’s no denying that there was the occasional rude gesture aimed against the Respect bus and I’m unconvinced that it was worth having a shouted argument with the Kestrel Super Strength drinkers in Brixton. Yet if the slogans that were being shouted had been “be kind to puppies” and “help your elderly neighbour when they’re in trouble” it’s fairly certain that in a city the size of London you can find enough contrarians to give the one or two fingered salute. My estimate, which other bus riders agreed with, was that the ratio of positive to negative reactions was ten / fifteen to one and on the one occasion when the bus did stop people hung around waiting to meet George Galloway.
Will this translate into a seat in the London Assembly? I haven’t a clue. It did illustrate that there is a significant number of people who are willing to give a warm response to the figurehead of a left organisation that is socialist, militantly anti-war and anti-racist.
Liam redux 
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