In a sinking yellow submarine?
If there is one thing that Liberal Democrats are good at, it is by-election campaigning. Their unapologetic ruthlessness is at times breathtaking. So it is instructive to know what they are up to in the Ealing Southall by-election.
Like many other Parliamentary colleagues, I have been there to deliver leaflets or canvass. The Liberal Democrats’ literature, at least what I saw, is all about Iraq. It is directed at the nearly 50% of the electorate which is Asian. However, I fear the moment may have passed. It is perfectly obvious that Gordon Brown is intent on withdrawing our troops as quickly as he can, without making it too too obvious.
Media comments about Liberal Democrats are very Ming-centric. But there is a greater underlying reality – we are back increasingly to two party politics; and the Liberals are so obviously being squeezed into greater and greater irrelevance. Meanwhile disaffected councillors locally are defecting to the Tories, who have an exceptional candidate.
No doubt the Liberal Democrats will characteristically try to trash him. However, I have a feeling that their campaign will not wash this time. We may well be in for something of a surprise.