“I’m not at all political but I’ll help you if like.”

My standard doorstep smile broke into a broad grin. Half an hour and a pot of Earl Grey tea later, I had recruited myself a designer and copyrighter – @Demsburybess.

Correction. ‘Team Libby’ had gained a designer and copywriter. One of the first suggestions @Demsburybess made is that we have a team identity. Team Libby it is. I’m just a little self-conscious about the sobriquet but I’m really excited about it at the same time.

Team Libby is growing rapidly. Our helpers have been recruited through church contacts, in the bar of the pub, on Twitter and Facebook, and on the doorstep. As the team grows, as our skills base increases, as new thinkers join in, our approach is changing.

The core group of Team Libby met up one evening in the back room of the Market Tavern over lime sodas and coffee. Pinot Grigio is off limits for me on campaign days and every day is a campaign day now.

Team Libby had earlier been asked to inquire discreetly among their friends about the campaign so far. There was a lot of complimentary comment, especially from people saying they were glad to have met me on the doorstep. But the feedback on Lib Dem Focus was not as good.

“Too negative… Its criticisms without alternatives… Too party political… It’s Lib Dem – not you.”

We felt particularly sore about comments being made around the town by my Tory rival. He was telling anyone who would listen that we worked on the basis of “be wicked, act shamelessly, stir endlessly.” Melissa briefed us that this was a line from some long forgotten ALDC leaflet. No one in the Libbyshire Lib Dems was admitting to having read this bit of propaganda.

@Demsburybess pointed out rather wryly that opponents have long memories while campaigners tended to be selectively forgetful. I rather felt there was a touch of friction developing between our new recruit and Melissa. I made a mental note to myself to keep an eye on it.

But we would not have debated the “be wicked” issue at all if we have not felt concerned that our flyers and Focus newsletters were overly negative and lacked the positive messages that voters were looking for.

We debated the issues for an hour or so and questioned what the next steps should be. Mel called the rambling discussion to order as the bar clock struck 10. I was a bit surprised, even a tad miffed, when @Demsburybess spoke to suggest the next steps in the campaign. Mel was gloomily silent.

@Demsburybess was adamant. The next Focus must have a clearer, less cluttered design. The consensus was that the current Lib Dem design was 1990s retro.

Others said that the content was too focused on issues of relevance to older people – parking, dog poo, antisocial behaviour. There is not enough wildlife, children, play, schooling…

Focus had little appeal for under 50s and not much greater appeal for those who were older. It seemed like the Lib Dems had come up with a design and stuck with it while the rest of the world moved on around them. We agreed to put together a design that was more appealing to younger people.

It was Mel who, snapping out of her gloom, came up with the idea of “Meet Libby Local”. It is to be two pages in Focus that talks about me and why I am standing. After a flurry of suggestions from around the table, we also came up with an idea for a calling card to hand out on doorsteps and whenever we meet people.

And it was, once again, @Demsburybess that caught the mood of the meeting and set the tone for the next stage of our campaign.

“This is about bringing politics back to ordinary people. It’s about stripping out the nastiness of party politics. It’s about stopping bashing of others for political sport. It’s about re-engagement of generations disaffected and about engagement of a new generation.”

And with that, Mel – who had been rather side-lined during the meeting – stumped up for a couple of bottles of Pinot Grigio.

* Libby Local is based on real events. Details have been changed to protect the innocent and disguise the guilty. Libby’s passion and determination, along with her angst and frustration, are set to be a regular feature of Lib Dem Voice as the May 2013 elections approach. You can catch up with all Libby Local's episodes to date by clicking here.