Highgate station at 7am, pouring with rain and not too warm. However, heart much lightened by response from would be passengers on the Northern Line. Ah – the Northern Line – dreadful since the PPP and not improving. One passer by asks if I will attend a public meeting on the state of the Northern Line. More than happy to. Contributed to the Chief Exec of Metronet being sacked for appalling performance – and am more than happy to continue to rail against the PPP! And so a warning to the Chief Exec of Tubelines if performance doesn’t improve – look what happened to John Weight!

A woman comes out from a house in Priory Gardens near the station to ask if I have any anti-war vote LibDem posters rather than pure LibDem – as the household is voting for me tactically to oust the ‘pro-war MP Roche’. Winging their way as I write!

Lots of friendly ‘you’ve got my votes’ – almost made the cold and wet acceptable.

Go to Neil’s house (agent) ahead of Charles K’s office visiting (preparation for his own visit latter in the week). Neil has his mum staying with him – been helping address envelopes (she is fantastic!), but has scribbled on his postal ballot paper some information she was taking down whilst on the phone. Ballot paper ruined. Happily – you can apply for a replacement! Every vote counts…

Around 11am head of to the school where Charles Kennedy is visiting on Wednesday to check the layout, procedure, etc. Men from Charles’s office, men from special branch (looking and behaving very like Men in Black) – I quite enjoyed it. All organised for Wednesday. Am hoping that despite the time constraints, Charles will have time to meet the campaigners from Red Gables – LibDems want to save it from Labour’s closure – but the team explain that Charles’s visit is very constrained time-wise and if possible will do – but no promises. Either way – I will raise it with Charles.

Masses and masses of casework, election enquiries and questionnaires from various lobby groups pouring in. Spend rest of morning trying to stem the tide.

Then canvassing with Don Foster MP in the afternoon in Crouch End. Neck and neck with Labour in this street and still no sign of any Conservative support whatsoever.