My daughter is trying to inveigle a lift to her friend’s house in Primrose Hill. I avoid giving my children lifts the vast majority of the time. Firstly – I use public transport much of the time and want them to do same. Secondly – I have very little time. Thirdly – don’t think it’s good for them to be molly-coddled!

However, as luck would have it, I was going to speak as part of a panel to Camden Liberal Democrats at a supper / Question Time sort of fundraiser. And sod’s law – it was about two minutes from where she was going – so she won! On route we saw gangs of little witches, wizards and warlocks – it was so cute. Little covens of kids knocking on doors with a grown up figure lurking not far away overseeing their trick or treating. I quite like Halloween – but still won’t watch a horror film on my own!

The other panel members were Sarah Teather MP (she of Brent East by-election victory), Baroness Sally Hamwee (London Assembly and House of Lords frontbencher), Lord Tim Garden (our expert on Iraq, the military and on every TV program on the subject) and myself.

It was a lively old night with lots of questions – pretty challenging ones at that. Iraq figured very largely over the evening and with the impending American presidential election – no surprise. Of course, after Tim Garden speaks so informatively, knowledgeably and well on those key issues. It’s not an easy act to follow, but we did our best.

Asked what the panel felt would be the most significant factor in the forthcoming General Election, my answer was trust. Whatever the policies, I think the fundamental problem for Labour is that no one trusts them any more.

The bloke sitting on my left at the Camden supper put his hand up to speak and made the same point about loss of trust because Tim Garden had expressed the view that trust wouldn’t be the key issue – it would be policies. This chap, Alexis, then stated that he had left the Labour party for that very reason and had only joined the LibDems one week earlier. I rest my case!

The panel was asked in two words to state their bets on the result of the American elections and the date of the General. Earlier in the year, it looked to me like Bush might go. But now I go for Bush and May!