A Day Out in Wilmslow

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A Day Out in Wilmslow

07.04.2010 // by Mischa Wilmers

Last Thursday, local campaigner Ste and I embarked on our Power2010 campaign in the quaint and picturesque town centre of Wilmslow.

With shadow chancellor George Osborne the local MP, Wilmslow is part of the Tatton parliamentary constituency - a safe Conservative seat.

The weather was not ideal and it had been threatening to rain all day, but luckily we were able to stay out for a full three productive hours and remained relatively dry.

After setting up our stall we began to approach the public with our petition.

Not surprisingly we were met with a mixed response but while the people of Wilmslow did not seem as keen on the idea of parliamentary reform as those we have encountered in other areas of Greater Manchester, there was still plenty of interest.

I was particularly struck by the reaction of one middle-aged man to my attempts at persuasion. "Forget that!" he dismissed, "Ill wait for the revolution and then join in!" That was enough to shatter my preconceptions of Wilmslow.

After collecting around 80 signatures we began to pack up our stall, content with our day's work.

Just as we were leaving a friendly reporter for the Wilmslow Express arrived on the scene.

She took a keen interest in the campaign jotting down notes and taking several pictures of the stall. Before leaving she promised that Power 2010 would be covered in the next edition of the newspaper out on Thursday 8th.

Encouraged by the public's response thus far, and with the general election date now set for May 6th, we plan to step up our campaigning in the North-West.

We understand the public's disillusionment with politics and anger at MPs and are determined to do something about it, to forge a real democracy which represents everybody.

It is for this reason that we want to present our politicians with direct evidence as to the scale of public displeasure and distrust at our political system.

Look out for us in the coming weeks; if you live in a safe seat there's a chance you will be seeing more of us than you will your local MP!

Mischa Wilmers is a Power 2010 Campaigner in the North West.

If you'd like to join us on the road, campaigning across the North West during the election period, please contact Robert Rankin on 07793559926 or email robert@power2010.org.uk. This weekend we will be in Chorlton, South Manchester