The Guardian has a report today on Nicola Sturgeon’s visit to the SNP office in Edinburgh West – which just happens to be right next door to the Liberal Democrat campaign office on one of the busiest roads in Edinburgh.

SNP supporters from the city and beyond had come to greet Nicola after her excellent performance in the leaders’ debate on Thursday. Severin Carrell, the journalist who wrote the article, alluded to the contrast with the quietness of Mike Crockart’s campaign office where only four people were to be found and made a number of very flawed conclusions about the party’s prospects in Edinburgh West:

But now, to add to the Lib Dems’ discomfort, the SNP’s campaign headquarters is in the old Yes Scotland shop immediately next door to Crockart’s high street office.

And protected behind a privacy screen, four Lib Dem workers stoically continued working away on their campaign, as scores of raucous SNP supporters, their saltires, SNP placards and balloons above their heads, greeted Sturgeon’s arrival.

Crockart was away at a meeting. A tall young man in his subdued office seemed to shrug off the contrast. Were they flustered by the huge crowds outside? “Not really. We had it during the referendum. It’s fine. It’s democracy,” he said.

That unflappable young man is…..Edinburgh West’s fantastic organiser Tom Utting. He’s such a good organiser that all the party’s workers were exactly where they should be – out on the streets talking to voters. In addition, in another part of the constituency, a clerical operation was doing the traditional writing, labelling and stuffing operations.

Carrell said that Edinburgh West was a seat that we are “unlikely” to hold. Well, Edinburgh West rejected independence by a majority of almost 2:1. For the last five years, they have been represented by an MP who has worked tirelessly for local businesses and local facilities. He’s also been a strong voice for opportunities for young people and for civil liberties.

Just yesterday, a lifelong Labour supporter came to offer his support as he had been impressed by Mike. Twenty minutes later, he was out there knocking on doors canvassing for Mike. I’d say that his hard work locally and the very high No vote makes this a pretty likely Liberal Democrat hold. Local voters can be sure that they have an MP who does all he can to help local people and, crucially, helps local businesses create jobs and stands up for the poorest and most vulnerable.

Rumour has it, by the way, that one Gareth Epps had been out on the campaign trail in West, too.

Just as an aside, the article described Nicola as “poised, coiffed and grinning”. Why mention coiffed? How is that even relevant? It’s nothing compared to the real misogynistic bile that’s been flung at her in recent weeks, but it’s still symptomatic of that casual sexism that unconsciously seeps in to our language.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social