A QUICK RECAP

Tuesday: My first trip to London for some time and then down to West Sussex to buy some remainder books to sell on the Politico's website.
Wednesday: Spent the morning working in the office before leaving for Manchester for An Evening with Ann Widdecombe. I meant to leave at 2pm but in the event couldn't get away until 3, which meant that any traffic holdup could be rather disastrous as I had to be on stage for 8pm. I got there with only 20 minutes to spare after spending about 20 minutes negotiating a particularly ridiculous one way system. Got back to Swanton Abbott at 2.45am!
Thursday: Visited a special school at Sidestrand in the morning and spent the rest of the day in campaign planning meetings and interviewing for a new Admin Assistant.
Friday: Today I am visiting a junior school in North Walsham and then Ann Widdecombe is coming to speak at a fund raising dinner this evening. Tickets sold out months ago. I'm also taking her to Paston 6th Form College in North Walsham and to the Catholic Shrine at Walsingham, which I was rather surprised to discover she had never visited.

A HEART STOPPING MOMENT

Took the train to London today and on the way back (standing all the way of course) I started reading Private Eye. I turned the page and there, staring out at me was my name. Gulp. Oh God, I thought, what have I done now. Racking my brain to think of anything that would have warranted a mention in Private Eye I felt as if everyone was watching me! It turned out to be a report an attack I made on Labour MP Austin Mitchell about him accusing me of shutting Politico's purely because I wanted to be an MP. Phew!

On Saturday night I went to dinner with some old schoolfriends near Saffron Walden and on Sunday spent the day working on various business and Norfolk related matters. Dreaded going to London today. It's amazing how little I have missed it.

COME ON TONY, COME TO NORTH NORFOLK!

I wrote to Tony Blair today urging him to forego his taxpayer aided holidays this year in some sunny climbe and instead come to North Norfolk. Fat chance, I know, but it's about time he gave a lead and took a holiday in this country. His last jaunt to Bermuda cost the princley sum of £27.50 a night. I know a good B&B in North Walsham that could compete with that very well.

SOMETHING OF THE FRIGHT

Got a mention in Ann Widdecombe's new Agony Aunt column in The Guardian today. She says she is scared stiff of my driving and that I have a bag of crisps in one hand and a mobile phone in the other. What a gross exaggeration... She forgot to mention the can of Fanta between my knees! She even rang me up to ask if I had seen it. No wonder she is driving herself to Manchester to our next Theatre gig on Wednesday! On Friday she's coming to address the North Walsham Conservatives annual dinner. It sold out two months ago. I wonder whether I dare present her with one of our car stickers - it says "Going Howard's Way"!!!

A VISIT FROM THE BOTTI

Who? Well, my friend Mark Fox, the candidate in Great Yarmouth informs me that the plural from Bottomley is 'Botti'. Who am I to argue. I collected them from the Furzedown Hotel in Yarmouth after breakfast and while Peter Bottomley went out on the streets of Hoveton with half a dozen of my colleagues, I took Virginia to visit an Abbeyfield home in Sheringham. On the way we stopped off at Potter Heigham and met a few people who were about to go out on the Broads. Somehow I found myself serving burgers in a burger van (at 9.30 in the morning!). As the diet's still going well I thought I'd beter not stuff my face. By the way, on the diet front I have lost 1 stone 9 pounds now in less than 2 months. Not bad eh? At last a politician who delivers on a promise...

A DAY IN THE WEST

I spent this afternoon in Fakenham campaigning with one of our Euro MPs Bashir Khanbhai. We stood outside Safeways first of all for an hour meeting shoppers - very worthwhile. We then went into the centre of Fakenham to talk to shopowners about their views on the possible new Tesco. Then had a hilarious encounter with a dozen or so young lads who were having a drink outside one of the pubs. Having promised them I would campaign for longer pub opening hours it wasn't that difficult to persuade them to vote for me! This evening we had a CPF dinner in Blakeney with Bernard Jenkin - great turnout.

TODAY - HOVETON LADIES, GUINEA PIGS AND SPANDEX

Just about to leave for the Hoveton Conservative Ladies Coffee Morning, then to Sanders Coaches in Holt to learn abou their operation. This afternoon I have a meeting at Kelling Hospital before attending a campaign strategy meeting in Cromer. My life was described on the Today programme on Tuesday in the following way: "Iain Dale is in his North Norfolk Constituency doing the things that Candidates have to do, like being interviewed by a guinea pig for his local paper and attending a wrestling competition with people clad in Spandex." Well I remember the first one, but for the life of me I can't remember the second... Sounds like the stuff of political nighmares, not to mention News of the World headlines!

MIXED BAG

Had to get up at 5.30am to make my debut appearance on the ITV News Channel doing a paper review. Got a parking ticket for my troubles too. God I hate London sometimes. It's the first time I've been to London in three weeks and I have to say I hated every minute. Drove up to Norfolk this afternoon and did an hour on the doorstep in West Runton. They're a right wing lot there! I felt a positive liberal leftie, and it's not often I have ever said that! Later on I went to Smallburgh Parish Council. And to round off the day I hear the Daily Express has defected to the Conservatives. Hurrah! It'll be The Sun next...

RADIO FOUR APPEARANCE TRAPS LAMB

Last Thursday the Today Programme came to Cromer to interview me about the Listeners' Law poll on which I was a judge oiver Christmas. You may remember the so-called Tony Martin law won the day, yet Labour MP Stephen Pound reneged on his promise to introduce whchever law topped the Radio 4 poll. The aim of the interview was to ask what I as a candidate could do to promote the law now. I made the point that people do not feel the current law protects them and cited examples of where that has undoubtedly been the case, although was careful not to rise to the bait of promoting the use of firearms. They then had a clip with Norman Lamb who accused me of being "populist". Er, actually I was reflecting the strongly held concerns of ordinary law-abiding citizens. He went on to say rather pompously that "the law already gives someone the right to defend themselves if they use reasonable force". Try telling that to the Policeman who was sued by a burglar who attacked him and he fought back. I ended the interview by saying that if I am elected next year I will introduce a Private Member's Bill on this issue. It's a promise I aim to deliver on.

THE BATTLE OVER THE CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM STARTS HERE

It is to Tony Blair's credit that he has done the most astonishing U Turn and agreed to have a referendum on the European Constitution. But let's not crow too quickly. He will no doubt try to put the referendum off until after the next election and then come up with a question which invites only one answer. Spin is not dead in Downing Street. It does make me wonder if an election might now be earlier rather than later. I'm keeping October free in my diary...

TODAY ON MONDAY

I shall be on the Today Programme on Radio 4 on Monday talking about householders' rights to defend their property. Hopefully it'll be on at 10 past 8 rather than 6am!

FARMERS' FORUM A SUCCESS

Yesterday we had a visit from Shadow Agriculture Secretary John Whittingdale. We did an interview on North Norfolk Radio and then went to visit a farm near Saxthorpe run by Peter Seaman, who it is safe to describe as a real Norfolk character! We talked about his business and diversification and he showed us a new venture he has started - worm farming! It's all to do with composting, and obivously hugely successful. We then went on to the Farmers' Forum Maureen Cushing and I had organised at Holt Rugby Club. To be honest I wondered if anyone would turn up as the weather was so superb. I thought that most of the farmers would have better things to do but to my amazement more than 70 showed up. We had two senior officers from the council to talk about planning issues relating to farming and the reaction seemed to be hugely positive. In the evening I went to a dinner party in Tunstead. All in all a very satisfying day. Today I was out on the doorsteps of Bacton and Happisburgh. Recruited several new party members. Great stuff!

BACK IN HARNESS

I spent most of the Easter period getting the new Politico's internet and mail order business up and running. Last weekend was the first weekend in six months that I hadn't been on the campaign trail, so I hope I can be forgiven for that! Yesterday evening I attended the inaugural meeting of our new Conservative Branch covering Overstrand, Northrepps and Trimingham. It was a very enthusiastic meeting and I know I'm going to get a lot of support from the people there. Today was mainly catching up with correspondence, interrupted by a visit from Radio 4's Today Programme who did an interview with me about law and order issues. It'll go out on Saturday I think. This evening I went over to Wicken Green on the far west side of the constituency to meeta few people. Tomorrow it's agriculture day as we have a visit from Shadow Agriculture Secretary John Whittingdale.

WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE...

I read in the EDP how the LibDems have been indulging in a typical piece of character assassination against the South Norfolk Conservative MP Richard Bacon. They seem to think they are in with a chance of winning hi sseat next time. I think not. Apparently they started off a recent conference in Norwich with Bacon Rolls (very droll) and their candidate jested "We're looking forward to eating the opposition". I sense a career on Have I Got News for You - or not. Perhaps they have forgotten the name of their representative in North Norfolk? Now of course, I would never stoop so low as to make fun of Mr Lamb's name. No Siree. Have to rise above that sort of thing. Wouldn't do. Not cricket. I'd be slated. It'd be like taking a Lamb to the slaughter...

FAME AT LAST FOR THIS BLOG

I didn't realise the nation's national newspaper journalists were avid readers of this Blog, but if you read today's Sunday Times you'll see I was wrong. It reports on my previous posting...

"Is Iain Dale, owner of Politico's, absolutely sure he wants to swap the gentle pace of bookselling for the thrusting world of politics? On his web diary the Tory candidate for North Norfolk recounts what seems a fairly typical candidate's day: visit to a police station, discussions at a health truyst, school governors meeting, talks with business leaders. And how do you think that all went Iain? He reports simply: "I'm knackered." Guilty as charged m'lud. Perhaps I should have mentioned the four hours paperwork and 300 miles I drove that day as mitigation! I never realised "politician admits being tired" would make the Sunday Times, but I suppose it must have been a light news week on the Sunday Times diary.

HOW'S THE DIET GOING THEN?

Regular readers of this Blog will know that I have embarked on a sponsored diet. It's been going for 5 weeks now and I have lost well over a stone, so I'm already half way there. My bathroom scales say I have come down from 18 stone 2 to 16 stone 7, but I'm not sure I trust them. I have an official weigh in on 15 April, so more news then! I must say I feel very much better for it. I'm almost half way to having a flat stomach for the first time in 10 years, not that I'm vain... The downside to losing this amount of weight is that I am going to have to buy a lot of new clothes. Try not to picture this vision in your mind but I put a pair of jeans on the other day, did them up and they prompty fell to my ankles. Not a pretty sight.

THE APPALLING BEVERLEY HUGHES

Beverley Hughes must be one of the most useless Ministers in living memory - although with this lot she's got a lot of competition. But to hear her bleatings in the debate about not being incompetent and acting with total integrity you wonder whether she was pulling an onion out of her pocket. I know Ministers have a lot of paperwork but put yourself in her place. If a fellow Minister wrote to you alleging the kind of scam that was going on in Bucharest and you then replied to that Minister promising action, don't you think it would stick in your memory? That's why I believe that she is not only incompetent but a liar too. And that's par for the course with New Labour.

BUSY BUSY

What a day. BBC News 24 paper review at quarter past midnight then off to Norfolk for an early start visiting Norfolk Police HQ at Wymondham where I was given a tour of the forensic labs, firearms section, control room and fleet control. Fascinating. Then to Norfolk Mental Health Trust to meet the people responsible for planning the future of Rebecca House in North Walsham. At 3pm I met the former North Norfolk MP David Prior for a chat - he now runs the University Hospital in Norwich so I wanted to talk to him about the new Cromer Hospital. Then off to Sheringham for a word with sme local business people and finally back to Cromer for my first meeting as a governor of Cromer High School. All in all I'm knackered. Tomorrow I'm visiting Broadland High School, a printing company in North Walsham and then speaking to the South NorfolK Conservative Association Annual Dinner for Richard Bacon MP.

REPORT ON MICHAEL HOWARD'S VISIT FROM THE EDP

The leader of the Conservative Party began a two-day tour of Norfolk yesterday with a keen eye on the next general election. After visiting Cromer he faced questions from the Eastern Daily Press and took in a whistlestop tour of Norwich Market. ADAM GRETTON and KEIRON PIM report. Tory leader Michael Howard yesterday declared North Norfolk as a "must win" seat at the next general election as he embarked on the first leg of his county tour. Mr Howard went on a charm offensive on his first ever trip to Cromer, meeting patients and staff at Cromer hospital and greeting shoppers and traders in the town centre.
The Conservative leader highlighted the importance of his party's plans for the National Health Service in regaining the traditionally core Tory seat of North Norfolk. He also pledged his full support behind Iain Dale, who has been charged with overturning Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb's slight majority of 483. "It is a very important area and it is a seat we need to win," he said. "We have an excellent candidate in Iain Dale but we must not take anything for granted. I am confident that if people want to get rid of a failing and discredited government then there is only one party to put in place." Mr Howard began the day at Cromer Hospital where he toured the wards and brightened up the day for some patients. "When are you taking over?" asked Alan Baxter, from North Walsham, who has a fortnightly blood transfusion at the hospital. "Very soon," replied Mr Howard. Dennis Reinman, 77, who was waiting to have his appendix removed, said he was impressed by the Tory leader and the North Norfolk prospective parliamentary candidate. "They have an uphill battle but I hope they give Tony Blair a good beating," he said. He than meet local GPs, surgeons, hospital officials and members of North Norfolk Primary Care Trust to discuss health provision in the area and the plans for a new Cromer Hospital. Speaking later in Norwich, Mr Howard later said he was impressed by the work of the area's voluntary ambulance drivers. "Something that I was very impressed by in Cromer this morning was the voluntary drivers for the regional ambulance service. "They work five days a week for modest mileage and I don't think we celebrate these volunteers enough." The Conservatives plan to give patients health passports, slash red tape and bureaucracy and commit an extra 9pc increase in the NHS in their first two years of government, if they win the next general election. Mr Howard said plans to give hospitals more independence would have prevented continued delays over the proposed £17m hospital for North Norfolk, which goes before regional health chiefs in May. "I think Cromer has an excellent hospital doing a great job for North Norfolk but it does have a great cloud of uncertainty, I find it difficult to find why the decision has taken so long to make," he said. Sue Tuck, hospital matron, said the MP was "delightful" and was "interested in the patients foremost." He later received a whistlestop tour of Cromer high street, seeing the regeneration works of the Pavilion Theatre and pier and talking to Tory supporters.

MICHAEL HOWARD VISIT

I'll post a full report on Michael's visit to Cromer sometime tomorrow!

SAVING A LOCAL BUS SERVICE

Here's a press release I put out on Friday...

Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for North Norfolk Iain Dale has
learned that two key bus services from Norwich to Cromer, the Runtons
and Sheringham are being cut at the end of next week. The X50 service to
Sheringham via Aylsham will not run on weekdays after 7.15pm. This means
that the North Norfolk Coast is effectively being cut off from Norwich
in the evenings. The 9.15pm and 11.15pm services will in future stop at
Aylsham. The 11.15pm service will only run through to Sheringham on
Saturdays. Iain uncovered the plans following representations from
constituents.

Iain comments:-

"I have had several letters and emails from residents in Sheringham and
Cromer who work in Norwich and often have to work late. After next week
they won't be able to use the bus to get home. I appreciate that Norfolk
County Council are picking up the tab for loss making services and
haven't got an endless pot of money, but I am concerned that Sheringham
and Cromer are being treated as peripheral areas in Norfolk. The Council
rightly point out that the Bittern line rail service is receiving large
public subsidies and is being used by more people, but if you are on a
low wage, the extra cost of a rail ticket (£4 single as opposed to £2.40
on a bus) will cost a commuter from Sheringham an extra £800 a year. I
am today asking all users of the 9.15pm and 11.15pm X50 services to
contact me on 01692 538180 or iain@iaindale.com. I have already spoken
to Adrian Gunson, Cabinet Member for Transportation and will be writing
to him asking him if he will reconsider the level of subsidy on these
routes. It is important that links into Norwich from the North Norfolk
coast are enhanced rather than reduced and I shall make every effort to
see if there is a way through this."

MICHAEL HOWARD VISIT

Tonight I'm chairing a public meeting in Hoveton on policing issues and then tomorrow morning we have Michael Howard coming to Cromer. I'm taking him round the hospital, then for a walkabout in the town centre. Should be an interesting day!

EMAIL

Sorry if you have had emails to me bounce back. I've been switching to new email software so anything you have sent me over the last 48 hours will not have got through.

TROUBLE FOR THE LIBDEMS

Now far be in from me to intrude into the LibDem leader's problems - and he has plenty of them - but I was most interested to see a piece in today's Guardian by Sarah Hall in which she takes Norman Lamb to task for not fulfilling his proper role as the leader's PPS. Read on...

Some senior figures also believe Mr Kennedy should appoint a political secretary who could be wholly dedicated to his welfare and stop him making political misjudgments - such as choosing to watch the euro statement in his office last June. This role was partly filled by the former party chairman Mark Oaten, but since the October reshuffle he has had to concentrate on his new brief as home affairs spokesman. Norman Lamb, his parliamentary private secretary, who has been working hard to improve relations between the leader and his parliamentary party, is also unable to fulfil this role, since his North Norfolk seat is being closely targeted by the Tories.

It seems I am keeping Mr Lamb from his leader's side. I hate to revel in another party's leadership woes, but it does make a pleasant change from crises in our own Party. Thankfully those days are well and truly behind us.

RANK HYPOCRISY

Press Release issued yesterday...

North Norfolk Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman Iain Dale has hit out at the "breathtaking hypocrisy" of Local LibDem MP Norman Lamb after he criticised Gordon Brown's £100 award to pensioners to help pay Council Tax. Dale pointed out that only a year ago North Norfolk LibDem councillors were elected on exactly that pledge - a pledge they have since ignored.

In a press release posted on his website Norman Lamb says: "Giving pensioners over 70 an extra £100 this year to help pay their Council Tax is merely a sticking-plaster operation."

"Only twelve months ago it was LibDem policy to cut £100 off Council tax. That was the pledge they made to the electorate before the district council elections. Did Mr Lamb refer to that as a sticking plaster operation? Of course not. Upon taking power he and his LibDem councillors conveniently forgot all about it. For Norman Lamb to criticise Gordon Brown for implementing a LibDem pledge is the sort of comment that gives politics a bad name."

BANGED TO RIGHTS

Had a great two hours this lunchtime on the Sandi Toksvig show on LBC. But then my day took a turn for the worse on my way back to Westminster... Here's a press release I've just issued...

Iain Dale, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for North Norfolk was at the centre of a dramatic road rage incident this afternoon (Wednesday), which culminated in Dale chasing after a man who had attacked his car and smashed his car window with a D-Lock metal bar window. With the help of a passer-by Dale apprehended the culprit and the Police were called. The man was arrested and charged with causing criminal damage. The attack caused a car window to be shattered and several dents were left in Dale's car. He estimates that the repair bill will be more than £1000. There were three witnesses to the attack and Dale spent nearly three hours at the Police Station making a statement. It just wasn't his day - while making the statement he received a parking ticket. The Police promised to help get it cancelled!

Iain Dale commented:

"On reflection it was a horrifying incident, but at the time you don't think - you just react to being attacked. I had tooted my horn to warn a cyclist that I was behind him. He had two supermarket bags on his handlebars and was swerving all over the road. At the next junction he caught up with me and slapped the roof of my car with his hand. I thought about stopping to remonstrate with him but decided not to and carried on with my journey. About a mile later I had stopped at some traffic lights and he appeared again beside my window. He was screaming abuse at me and wanted me to wind down my window. I declined. I was about to move off as the lights turned green when he produced a metal D-Lock and proceeded to hit my wing mirror with it. He then tried to smash the driver's side window and also hit the paintwork on the door frame and door. The window didn't smash. If it had done so I would have been badly injured. He then turned his attention to the rear window, which after two blows did indeed shatter. The man then proceeded to cycle off. I immediately leapt out of my car and gave chase. As I began to catch up with him I shouted to a passer by to help me stop him, which he did. We both grabbed his handlebars and prevented him from moving away. He continued to shout and scream while the Police were called. The Police arrived after only three minutes and immediately arrested the man, handcuffed him and put him in a police van. There were three witnesses to the incident, one of whom had followed me all the way and had himself noticed how erratically the cyclist was riding his bicycle. I am indebted to all three for coming forward and in particular to the man who put himself at risk to assist in apprehending the cyclist.

"Only four weeks ago I was the victim of another crime - in the same car - when my mobile phone was stolen. I just hope these things don't come in threes!"

THE DAY AFTER

Quite how I managed to talk about poor Clare Barnes on News 24 last night I don't know. I was given a tip by a North Norfolk friend to think of pleasant things, then you get through it. The press coverage of Clare's death has been astonishing. It's interesting that the media concentrate on the fact that she's Carol's daughter, rather than Denis's. More evidence of the media's interest in celebrity over politics? I can't help pondering over the fact that had she been the daughter of Mr & Mrs Average from Cleethorpes she would have barely rated a mention.

Today I have been at Politico's all day packing things up for our move. Last night was spent at a Conservative History Group meeting (I'm its director, before you make any snide comments....) on the Macmillan Years. We had the editor of the Macmillan Diaries Peter Catterall and Sir Peter Tapsell MP as the speakers. Peter Tapsell is a great speaker and full of hilarious anecdotes.

Tomorrow I am on LBC with Sandi Toksvig for a couple of hours. Hugely enjoy her show. It's totally spontaneous and you end up talking about the oddest subjects. Right up my street reaaly.

Great opinion polls today. I really feel we are on the verge of a major breakthrough both nationally and locally. There's an optimism in the Party I haven't experienced since the late 1980s.