Press conference with Charles Kennedy, Simon Hughes and Chris Rennard (campaign guru and mastermind of LibDem successes) at Lib Dem HQ.

We all walk in and sit – lots of journos and a couple of TV stations in attendance.

Charles kicks off with a stirring piece about our chances of success (good). He takes the national angle.

Then Simon speaks about what he will do for London and then I have a go at Ken Livingstone.

He has his own agenda – not really London’s. And he will spend on his pet projects, areas and his own publicity. If you cross him, he is vitriolic and vengeful. Given the piece the Guardian G2 ran quoting me on Ken’s nastier aspects – I hope and pray

Simon wins – or Ken will be out to get me. Nasty business – hey?

Then Chris Rennard does the real business of the day – revealing the new polling showing that Simon is really closing on Norris and that if he pulls that off – the second preferences that come his way once Norris is out the race put him within 1% of beating Ken – too close to call.

Really exciting now!