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Thought I’d tell you about the Bath LibDem campaigner who visited me a couple of weeks ago: he arrived on the doorstep to ask me if I knew who I was voting for – I said, no, not yet (cue to try and convince me?); he then asked who I had voted for in the past and I told him LibDem but unlikely to vote for them this time on the basis that (i) the spa was financially such a fiasco and I don’t believe they have the appropriate level of financial expertise required, (ii) I couldn’t believe the James Dyson technical college was refused as I felt we missed a massive opportunity, (iii) Bath is backward-thinking in terms of development – we cannot rest on our laurels and the World Heritage merit forever –we need to modernise in keeping with the City a la Cardiff, Bristol, Newcastle, Liverpool, Portsmouth, etc etc and (iv) businesses that would bring in higher level employment seems to be actively discouraged – tourism and council (now making huge redundancies) only deliver minimum wage employment. Whilst Bath probably isn't suited to high levels of manufacturing, technology and other industries should be encouraged.

His response:

• The other cities I mentioned are apparently LibDem run – to which I said if they can do it, why can’t we?
• There are two candidates – a man and a woman for Walcot – I asked about their background to which his response was: the man has plenty of government consulting experience – I said this does not help private sector; and the woman is new and he has only just met her, knows nothing about her but she’s very good! To which I replied that I could not believe he was trying to convince me to vote for someone about who he knows nothing himself!

In short I am pretty undecided (and to be frank cannot see anyone with a big enough and convincing enough differential). LibDems have had too much of an easy ride - they need to be taken to task and just rocking up on the doorstep isn't good enough - campaigners MUST be fully briefed on policies and candidates.

Please don't forget, all these people who turn up on your doorstep are volunteers, and they probably have better things to do. Have you thought of standing yourself? You complain that turning up on your doorstep isn't enough - but that's more than you've done!

1. karen-bath

The University of Bath is a very good uni and it is a pity that the local councillors haven't the vision to capitalise on this centre of learning.

I have noticed that both the Lib/Dems and the Tories appear to be working together in Luton. I think they have a secret (nudge and wink, say no more squire) agreement.

For instance in east Luton the Lib/Dems have held the council seats for donkeys years. Now you would think that if the Tories really wanted the seats they would attack the incumbents.
However, the Tories are vehemently attacking Labour. The Lib/Dems are also attacking Labour and noticeably not mentioning Clegg or Cable.

So it looks like, from the Tory and Lib/Dem leaflets that Labour are not to win.
I have never seen so much being spent on local election leaflets by the Lib/Dems and Tories before. Where are they getting the money from, eh.

Sid (2) I'm sure Karen turns up on her own doorstep on a regular basis ;o)

Hello it only me. Our local Tory council candidate has pulled out altogether. And he was the only one who knocked on my door? Perhaps after talking to me hes gone to find a darkened room to slowly waste away into nothingness in.

Ln 4, I suppose the sausage man will be happy with the election results.

I worked with a man in Winchester who is now an archaeologist in Bath.

Ln 4, I've known several Cleggs, all Lib Dems.