Things Can Only Get 5

Following yesterday's announcement about a Conservative pledge to bring back national service, today we learned that this came as a surprise to all but a few of Rishi's inner sanctum. No less a figure than Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker said this, apparently from a Greek beach. Tough job this campaigning.

From another source we learned that Rishi was about to face a vote of no confidence so he called a General Election to cut this off. No idea if this is the case but the narrative fits the facts. Or should that be the facts fit that narrative?

I don't have any special knowledge but I do know that it has been a calamitous start to the Tory campaign, Amazingly 20% of voters will still prefer them, possible a figure that would continue to hold even if the candidate was a convicted serial killer with a blue rosette.

Our village has been added to the bellwether constituency of Redditch so our votes mean something. They haven't in the past, this is blue-rosetted serial killer territory. He's called Nigel. We were visited by our local Labour campaign team today. They mobilised quickly. We were impressed by some well produced campaign literature and a good doorstep chat.

The rough and tumble of the campaign trail is mainly about photo opportunities, sound bites and gaff-free behaviour. I wonder what the next few weeks will bring?