SNP fails in BBC debate court bid

It was bound to be. Lady Smith, judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, through out the SNP's bid to be in the spotlight. Alex Salmond in a Prime Ministerial Debate? Laughable at best, I'd say.

Scottish Tory campaign manager David McLetchie sums it up rather well. "The SNP knew the UK leaders' debates would get significant press coverage but Alex Salmond waited till now to go to court to ensure maximum coverage during the campaign. His use of the legal process, for what has been no more than a £50,000 SNP campaign stunt, is desperate stuff. The ruling just proves this point."

I hope Salmond puts the £50K in the accounts for the Electoral Commission to peruse!

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Tories attack Labour over leaflet 'lies'

Gordon Brown is talking about truth in the leaders' debates but he is also stimied by his recent bout of untruthfulness. He told six lies in six weeks, one of which was a real deception in front of Sir John Chilcott.

Now he is distancing himself from the lies being told about the Conservatives and their welfare policies. Gordon Brown was confronted by a very annoyed David Cameron last night, but he just responded by providing his caninus muscle grin, which I am beginning to see is a cover up for "I've been caught out again!".

Gordon Brown may not have "authorised" the leaflets, but he doesn't seem to want to say that such deceptive electioneering is wrong. Makes a paragon of virtue look decidely amateur in comparison I think. He should try a bit harder in his truthfulness quest.

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Joe Hall - Independent - Luton South

Independent candidates are contesting this election in their droves. Not only that they are also in various groupings and some constituencies are getting more than one serious Independent standing.

Luton South is one consituency in particular. Esther Rantzen is contesting this seat as is Joe Hall, a Luton born and bred charity professional. That makes two charity professionals in the field. Given the electoral system only really recognises a voter as being either "a little Conservative or a little Liberal", crowded fields tend to give skewed results. That said, the electorate currently is in a "plague on both your houses" mood and Joe Hall has as much chance as Esther in achieving a good result. It may not be a win, but it will be interesting to see who the eventual winner is in Luton South. Must be a bookmaker's nightmare and a pollster's conundrum.

I give Joe Hall's Campaign Site a Voter Friendly 6/10 for Election Information

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