Imagine a technique that can heal Britain of division and keep out the hard right. I call it ‘radical listening’
In my constituency, volunteers chat with people in deprived areas – most of whom find they are to the left of their voting intentions. The results are exhilarating
TL;DR
- Conventional political campaign methods like door-knocking and advertising have minimal impact on voters' decisions.
- Deep canvassing involves volunteers engaging in lengthy, empathetic conversations to understand and connect with voters' feelings.
- This technique, developed by LGBT activists, has proven effective in changing minds and appears to create durable change.
- Radical listening, exemplified by the Common Ground group, uses interactive methods to encourage dialogue and reveal people's underlying values.
- These approaches foster a sense of being heard, combat alienation, and can lead to more open-mindedness and stronger democratic faith.