ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog: Lincoln

Each week a different PPC provides us with an insight into life as a candidate and gives us a flavour of their own campaign and interests. If you are a candidate and are keen to be featured, please email Jonathan Isaby.

This week’s diary is written by Karl McCartney, who contested Lincoln at the 2005 general election and was reselected for the seat in February 2007, having cut sitting Labour MP Gillian Merron's mahority in half. He now requires a swing of 4.7% to overturn her notiona majority of 3,806 and gain the seat for the Conservatives. Karl is Campaign Director for the Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign.

Friday 28th August
Day started well on opening the Lincolnshire Echo with both sides of the letters page dominated by two lengthy and detailed letters both supporting issues with which I am closely involved. Had to buy a second copy, not to please my vanity, but because our dog totally chewed our first copy. The main letter covered recent Park and Ride announcements (Lincoln has none) that will impact on our campaign to return professional flat horse racing to Lincoln. The letter made quite helpful points which should help at the forthcoming meeting with local Community Forum on Tuesday evening.

After yesterday in Newcastle, I spent the day Magistrating in Lincoln so was able to be home at a reasonable time to be with the family. A great way to start the Bank Holiday weekend topped off with a take away and a family film night watching Star Wars.

Saturday 29th August
Our eldest son was up first today and he managed to retrieve the newspaper before the dog did, hence I was able to read some more positive comments without trying to guess the missing words. Good canvassing weather in Skellingthorpe but not as many canvassers as I would have liked, however, this is understandable since it is a Bank Holiday weekend. Still, people were pleased to see us and had a lot to say about the Government – none of it good.

Finally had to force myself to break apart our Hornby train set which had been used in a recent Plains, Trains and Automobiles (and R/C Helicopters) fundraising event held at our house. It was great seeing grown men and women reliving their childhoods, and hence my reluctance to put it all away again. My wife put her foot down and said that she wouldn’t mind sitting in our sun room at least once whilst we still have some sun rather than looking at my recreation of Lincoln’s station in miniature.

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