Eric Pickles: We are winning the banner and poster war

Eric Pickles' daily take on the election campaign.

Well if the election were won on the number of banners, people, posters and pledges then I’d tempt fate by saying we’re well ahead of our opponents.

As I continue my campaign tour of our target seats I find our candidates are buoyed by the growing support on the doorsteps.  My walkabouts through town centres and city centres are attracting more supporters and greater attention than ever.

In contrast to previous elections, I’ve only had to dodge one egg and face a rather sad-faced lone heckler (more interested in navigating his shopping trolley across the car park than he was in disrupting the smooth running of the democratic process).

Today saw the modest Pickles people carrier chug through the Eastern region.

In Harlow (left), where Robert Halfon has generated great support, we were joined by a huge group of supporters.

In Luton South with Nigel Huddleston, Castle Point with Rebecca Harris and South Basildon and East Thurrock with Stephen Metcalfe we were met by more people and more banners. And in Thurrock we joined Jackie Doyle-Price and finished off our day with a crowd buoyed by recent campaigning showing our support holding up so well.

While I’d never expect serious experts to forecast this election on a spurious new ‘index’ based on the number of campaign banners (weighted of course) I was overwhelmed by the huge hunger for change on the doorstep.

The world out here is crying out for change.  We offer it. David fought for it tonight and just watch that banner index rise in the morning.

Eric Pickles