Just got back (9pm) from campaigning in Crewe. We decided to just turn up today. We pulled up to find the car park of the campaign office absolutely packed. Got out to discover David Cameron was giving a press briefing about twenty yards away.
Slipped in to the campaign office and signed in. They have a book for your name, address and constituency, so those of you who go to help - people are taking notice. Even though David was leaving, pursued by a crowd of reporters, the campaign offices were thronged with MPs - Shadow Cabinet members and frontbenchers. I saw Alan Duncan, Charles Hendry, several others. Even got to introduce myself to the great man himself, hero of May 1st, Eric Pickles MP.
We picked up some leaflets and got given a bottle of water and went straight out. That's nice, I thought, some senior MPs have come along to support Edward Timpson and David Cameron and they'll be off now.
Not a bit of it. As we leafleted in central Crewe my agent goes into a front garden to find two men deep in conversation - one is Andrew Rosindell MP, sadly without his dog. The MPs were not there for show, they were all out there actually working hard in the sun. I talked to Angela Watkinson MP and David Evenett MP. I have to say, as a candidate, it was truly exciting. To see our veterans and stars and senior people ready to work so hard - not to turn up for a photo-op, but actually to go out as activists for hours posting literature and talking to voters. This is, incidentally, Cameron's third trip to C&N. Gordon Brown is far too busy for the voters of this seat.
The literature we were delivering was a credit to Edward Timpson. I saw opposition parties' stuff. Elizabeth Shenton (LibDem) was attacking Tamsin Dunwoody. Tamsin Dunwoody was smearing Edward Timpson. Edward's literature talks of his social work and local roots and what he wants to do in Crewe and Nantwich. His is the only positive campaign, and not a xenophobic BNP-style dogwhistle in sight.
We found a few of the voters wanted to talk. 'I've voted Labour, not sure this time' was a familiar refrain. Campaign workers told me they'd had floods of volunteers last Saturday. The LibDems are producing expensive glossy magazines but they're not close to matching us. They seem to have given up and Labour are demoralised. But we all know that one sure way to lose elections is to get complacent. Crewe and Nantwich needs an hour or so from all of us.
Crewe is a long way for many of us. I left at lunchtime and just got back. But I'm so thrilled that Corby & East Northants was a part of this. The Conservatives know what a tough ask Crewe is but we are making the case, running a good-natured, upbeat campaign, and everybody is involved from David Cameron and the Shadow Cabinet down to local CFers. You want to make a few hours to go and help, telephone canvassing if necessary. We can win this thing. I promise you that a day spent helping in Crewe will give you a tremendous buzz about how excited and optimistic this party is.
Be a part of it. ConservativeHome has a coach going. You won't regret it.