If a party’s leader visits a constituency it doesn’t hold three times…

By Mark Pack | Tue 13th April 2010 - 8:26 pm

… in the space of a few months, it’s a pretty big clue that the party believes it has a strong chance of winning – and almost certainly has polling or canvass data analysis to back it up.

I’m thinking of Nick Clegg and Luton South.

And why am I thinking of Luton South? Because of today’s Times which, apart from a most excellent page 16, made rather a misjudgement in reporting on Luton South and not mentioning Liberal Democrat candidate Qurban Hussain even once.

PS Michael Crick has been wondering why “in four leaflets the Lib Dem Qurban Hussain tells us of his work as a local councillor, but nothing of his job”. Ah, you could have just asked Michael. He used to work for a trust getting people back in to work, but quit his job a few months ago to dedicate himself full-time to his campaign. Personally I think someone taking the risk of just working full-time on their election campaign is usually something to be admired, regardless of which party the person is from.

3 Comments

Dan in DC 13th Apr '10 - 9:26pm

Agreed that it takes gut to run full time. Are there any polls on the district? Did he run last time?
burkesworks 13th Apr '10 - 10:07pm

I’m thinking of Nick Clegg and Luton South.

Hey Mark, you misspelled “Bradford East” 🙂 Three visits here in about four months, and today with a Vince in tow by way of a bonus. Looking good for Mr Ward by this token, I’d say!
Luton Lib Dem 14th Apr '10 - 10:13am

Dan in DC, Qurban was announced last week in a poll conducted by a local paper as the favourite to win. The ITN News at Ten cited this poll in a piece on Luton South this week which said the campaign he was ‘advancing strongly’.

Also, he did run last time and in the Europeans. Given that he is also a local Cllr he really is well known in the constituency.

So yes, it’s going well in Luton! 🙂