Nigel Adams drove into Selby this morning in his Quattro – surely the must-have car this spring which he coincidentally owned – to launch his Conservative election campaign supported by an army of eager activists ready for action. (Courtesy of Ellee Seymours blog)
 

With blue balloons adding a festive touch and a cheering roar from his supporters, Nigel announced his delight at the election call and declared his determination to continue campaigning hard for constituents in Selby and Ainsty, a new seat in Yorkshire following boundary changes. Several well wishers passing by stopped to offer their support, including his former French teacher. The lunching ladies in the local cafe pledged their support too.
“You’re representing the right colour,” they told him, and “yes, we do need change,” they nodded in agreement.

It’s just as well that Nigel is there working for them as there was not a squeak from his Labour or Lib Dem opponents. A local journalist told me she had heard nothing about Labour’s plans to launch the election campaign, while the reporter seriously thought that the Lib Dem candidate was away on holiday after reading an automated response from his email which said he was away for a few days, and she later discovered he was at work, like it was just any other normal working day, regardless of being a parliamentary candidate contesting a general election!

There was a terrific sense of optimism in Selby, and the buoyant mood continued when Baroness Warsi arrived in the afternoon; she is Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action, and talked about how crucial it was to inject new life into local manufacturing industries. I forgot to tell her how much I always admired her on the panel at BBC Question Time. I asked her to pass on my best wishes to Janice Small who we all agreed was doing a stupendous job in Batley and Spen, knowing she might see her later that evening in Leeds with other Yorkshire parliamentary candidates.

“Pace yourself,” I advised Nigel, knowing how exhausting the next few adrenalin-fuelled weeks will be.  That’s going to be the hardest part for all our candidates as they want to go out and give it their best shot.

What fun it’s going to be too, with lots of unexpected surprises and gaffes thrown in as well, no doubt.