Crewe and Nantwich - dirty politics part 1 - I am more local than you!

8.40.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 22nd May 2008

One of the things that has annoyed me about the Crewe and Nantwich by-election (polling today) is the desperate attempt by all three main political parties to try and claim to be local.

In an ideal world every candidate from every party would have some connection to the seat, because it's nice, realistically speaking that's bonkers and just can't happen.

The Liberal Democrats in particular like to have a local candidate as that suits our local style of politics. We have often campaigned saying our candidate was the local candidate and candidate x or y isn't - so perhaps we started the problem Crewe and Nantwich is now having.

Labour's Tamsin Dunwoody does have a local connection - her mother was the local MP after all - but doesn't live there.

Conservative Edward Timpson appears to have a local connection to the seat - I think his children were born there and there is something else - but doesn't live there.

Liberal Democrat Elizabeth Shenton also has some local connections but again doesn't live there (although believe she is closest).

What we have seen in Crewe is the Conservatives claim to be local, as have the Liberal Democrats. Not one of the three candidates is actually 'local' so all that happens is the parties are arguing amongst themselves - now does that impress voters?!