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When is a kiss not simply a kiss?

When it's election time.

Five and a half month old Maddison got the five star treatment from the , David Milliband, on a visit to a Sure Start centre in Bedford today.

It's a cliche but it did look like the father of two genuinely couldn't resist a quick cuddle while on the campaign trail.

After the politicians face an uphill struggle to reconnect with voters in this election.

Even among people here - there was a fair degree of cynicism.

"There are some very good MPs around but the impression you get is that they're in the minority not the majority," said one.

"I think it's knocked some people's confidence but I will be voting," said another.

David Milliband countered: "There's huge cynicism and scepticism about politics and we have to show in this campaign that politics is, indeed, a noble cause.

"We have to break through the cynicism, we have to listen, we have to be humble about what's gone wrong as well as full of pride about what's gone right and we have to really try and map a positive course for the country's future."

All this and the election starting gun's not even been fired yet.

Mr Milliband warmed to his theme, chatting later to locals in Luton South: "Politics needs cleaning up - particularly in this town," he said.

It's the town that , who was suspended from the Labour Party last week, helps represent.

Labour supporters - and there are plenty of them here - were glad of a bit of high ranking TLC as they have been sorely neglected over the past year.

We'll soon see whether it's enough to win their votes.

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