When you're a Parliamentary Candidate you expend quite a lot of effort urging your supporters to write letters to the local newspaper either supporting your candidacy or to criticse the incumbent. One of the more regular correspondents of the Eastern Daily Press is a Conservative Party member called Bernard Cowley, who hails from the beautiful village of Blakeney. I'm sure Bernard won't mind if I share with you the fact that he would often write letters of a slightly unhelpful letter, urging the Conservative Party to adopt rather right wing policies, especially on Europe. I would then send him an email saying, "er, rather unhelpful, old chap." And he would often reply with the email equivalent of sackcloth and ashes saying yes, perhaps he had gone a little far and assuring me he'd be more helpful next time. Well in yesterday's EDP Bernard surpassed himself and came up with a suggestion that would save the local Conservatives the trouble of selecting a candidate at the next election. Here's what he said...

By any standards, Norman Lamb is an excellent constituency MP and, as trade and industry spokesman, a valued member of the Liberal Democrat front bench who has the respect of the House of Commons. There is now no chance of the Liberal Democrats ever forming a government or even becoming part of a coalition. The Conservatives under David Cameron, will almost certainly make a complete recovery over the next two general elections as the frailty and incompetence of New Labour brings about their downfall. I believe Mr Lamb agrees wioth most of the aims of the new Conservative Party - particularly in the areas of social responsibility, the enviornment, Europe, the ecomoy. And when the Conservatives win the next election they will be woefully short of skilled, experienced and talented parliamentarians like himself to form an effective administration. Mr Lamb should cross over to the Conservative Party now - especially as I cannot imagine he would ever be in sympathy with the probable leader of his Party, Simon hughes, who will lurch immediately to the far Left, taking the bulk of the party with him, and leaving Mr Lamb behind. Don't waste your talents Norman -come and join us. You'll be very welcome.

I wonder if a reply from Norman Lamb will be forthcoming...