NI, NATIONAL INSURANCE? OR NOT INTERESTED?

Week one of the general election campaign seems to have been dominated by a subject matter which has left most of the public switching off the election coverage before in most cases it even got started!

Just who in their right minds would dream up a strategy which said “I know in week one we will concentrate of the views of big business towards a rise in National Insurance Contributions, that will get the public sitting up and taking notice!"

And of course as soon as the Tories had played their predictable "Big business bosses vote Tory" Joker the rest of the plan then started to unwind.

"For a start" said Joe Public "don't these businesses already make big annual profits?, and if so why are they saying that this small change would cost jobs?, surely if they made big profits last year then they are not going to reduce staff and put future profits at risk over a small rise in NI costs?"

This was quickly followed by even more cold light of day realisation by the general public that if the Government  (whatever its colour) fails to bring in the money from the NI rise then it will have to be found or  cut from elsewhere in the budget? I.e. jobs in the public sector!

Overall then despite the early obvious claims of 2Big Business Bosses Back the Blues2 (as if they ever didn't!) I believe that Cameron has played this one wrong and that over the weekend commentators will declare the first round and salvo to Gordon Brown, leading to more speculation as to a hung parliament where Independents really could make a difference.

Meanwhile though in Northampton, at the real election! People on the doorstep have been very encouraging and warm to our message, it seems as if more people than I anticipated are aware of me standing as a candidate than I thought. they tell me they are backing me as credible local candidate with a good track record,
It’s humbling, but also very rewarding given the efforts we have made.  People are also saying that they are willing to drop their previous party vote in favour of a vote for Northampton. We are currently delivering our introduction leaflet (42, 000 houses!) So far top marks to the Tories who seem to have got their leaflets out (it seems through a commercial company?) and to SOS who leaflets we have also come across in our travels. And the wooden spoon to be shared by Labour and the Lib Dems who seem not to have surfaced.

So anyone wanting to tread the pavements and  join "Tony Clarkes new tried and tested weight loss plan" will be gladly signed up for a crash course in leaflet delivery.

I will also scan and publish the leaflet on the blog. Onwards and upwards, and out now to Duston.