Obviously – with Nick Clegg’s helpful contribution in the Leader Debates – the campaign trail has been very exciting with lots of people coming up and talking politics, smiling waving and saying they are going to vote Liberal Democrat.

Through my inbox too come a whole host of kind messages of goodwill and support – so here’s a couple of examples of how kind and wonderful people can be.

From a local parent (I’ve blanked the name for privacy for the son)

‘My son, XXXXXX, is 14. You came to Fortismere school and talked to all the kids about the Lib Dems. XXXXX got really enthusiastic and excited about politics! He really liked what you said about kids issues, and wishes he could vote.  He has watched every debate, and has been talking politics and issues with us and has even talked about becoming a politician! Amazing.. he even calls Nick Clegg a goon. (Trust me, a goon is a good thing.) ‘

And this next one – an email from a life-long Labour supporter! Mr Shuel was happy for me to publish his name.

Dear Lynne Featherstone,

At the last election, I voted for you because I was in effect voting against
Tony Blair. Because the politics of ones parents tend to rub off on their
children and my father was a committed Socialist, his politics rubbed off on
me. I might add that I am now 73 so it’s been a long love affair. Nothing
would ever persuade me to vote Conservative but I loathed Tony Blair and
all that he stood for – so I voted for you.

I have not regretted it for one moment. You have been an ideal Member of
Parliament. I have been filled with respect for the way in which you have
conducted yourself right from the word go. You responded to my worries about
The Digital Economy Bill when many of my fellow worriers got nothing from
their MPs. You keep us informed. You are what we need.

I was however initially torn this time around. The idea of a Conservative
government doesn’t bear thinking about and I felt that in order to ensure
the Conservative candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green was kept out I should
perhaps return to my Socialist roots. On intelligent reflection this was
clearly absurd reasoning . With an MP such as you have proved yourself to
be, I would rather have you around than anyone else.

After listening to endless electioneering, I find myself increasingly filled
with admiration for the Liberals. I wish you and your entire party well and
find that for the first time for years, I really care what happens to the
Liberal Party and will contentedly vote for you because of you, your leader
and his cohorts and not because I loathe the other party leaders.

Yours very sincerely
Sal Shuel