Tonight it is the London Region Conference of the Liberal Democrats. I am down to be one of three speakers at the ‘Gold Star Rally’ at the end of the evening where we three (Bridget Fox / Islington South, Chris Maines / Orpington and myself / Hornsey & Wood Green) rally the troops to come out and help us.

I start the evening chatting in the cafeteria to Sarah Teather MP (Brent East). We discuss tactics for the election.

We are joined by Jason Beattie, Evening Standard lobby correspondent, who is chairing a session with Sarah and Ed Davey where questions are put by the audience.

When it comes to the rally, I go on last and really enjoy it. Just for once I don’t have to talk about transport or Ken – and can give a really political speech – which I do. Current bugbear – not surprisingly – the Tory and Labour efforts to be tough on immigration and asylum – for political gain more than anything else.

The sub-text of both Labour and Tory seems to be to scare residents into the view that it’s all their (immigrants’) fault. So groups of poor and underprivileged people fight and blame each other rather than turn the attack where it should be placed fairly and squarely on both Labour and Tories for not providing a decent house-building programme over the last two decades. It is very easy to turn need into blame and then scapegoats are created in that ferment.

Anyway – I am appalled by Blair’s sabre-rattling for the election. He has obviously seen it work for Bush – and believes it will work for him here.