From outside SW1
On Saturday the heavens cleared and the sky was beautifully blue. It was an appropriate colour. We have a by-election this week for the town council in Haverhill, the largest town in my constituency. Sixteen of us went canvassing and delivering leaflets on Saturday morning.
Now metropolitan sophisticates may think this all rather amateurish and unscientific but I have developed a theory over the years that doorstep conversations are reflected in the polls 2-3 weeks later.
Admittedly we have a very well known candidate, a local GP practice manager, who has been leading the charge against budgetary cuts. A lifelong Labour voter, she joined the Conservatives in November, along with the only Labour county councillor left in my constituency.
I write this because the canvass was – as a Tory - the very best I can ever remember including well before I arrived at Westminster.
Numerous households told us that they were now finished with Labour – “enough is enough”, “time for change” - while some comments about Gordon Brown could only have been made in public after the 9 o’clock watershed.
The Prime Minister has been talking about making long term decisions. Judging by the extraordinary reception we had on the doorstep on Saturday, the electorate is making - his relaunch notwithstanding- a long term decision about him, which carries with it a ring of finality.