The final push

Yesterday we woke up in Leeds, today at our home on North Queensferry.

We started off bright and early with a stop off at the Yorkshire Produce Market to speak to traders who are bringing in fruit and veg from around the world and lots from all over Britain too especially now our growing season is in full swing. They explain that they have got through the worst of the global crisis and are starting to see better times. Top of the sales list at the moment are English tomatoes, early strawberries and some delicious looking asparagus.

Then on to one of the R&D centres at the University of Bradford where we hear about new innovations for dentistry and cataract operations using nano-techniques (this cleary means making very tiny tiny things) and head into the big new atrium for Gordon to give another thumping speech on the economy you can read it here.

One of the things I’m really struck by whenever he talks about the skills of the future is he always gets a massive cheer when he mentions that Britain now has a record number of students – and the majority are women.  Labour have made a difference to so many people as Gordon made clear in his Manchester speech (if you’ve not got time to watch the whole thing, just watch the section on the Labour record at the beginning – it’s been a busy 13 years)  - but perhaps the biggest difference of all for women (read more about that here)

In the car as we continue our journey Gordon takes a call from Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister and they have a chat about the global economic situation - even the day before polling the work of securing the recovery goes on.  As I said here: I know he gets up every morning, and goes to bed every evening, thinking about the things that matter.

When we arrived in Skelmersdale, Lancashire to meet our candidate Rosie Cooper we were quite overwhelmed by the crowds and people of all ages just wanting to say hello and wish Gordon good luck. While Gordon is doing an interview I nip to the sweetshop which has jars of all those old-fashioned sweets that are weighed out for sale that are so popular again I opt for some liquorice allsorts and some strawberries and cream to take home for the boys, but I imagine that they will be raided before I actually get home.

Our next visit was to the Blackpool Tower where we join candidates Gordon Marsden and Penny Martin with their campaigners and supporters and get a rousing welcome. I always enjoy visiting Blackpool and this was a great opportunity to pass on our congratulations to Blackpool FC for getting into the Premiership play offs this year.

We have a quick dash for the train at Preston - meeting local supporters at the station as we rush through (and going so fast we left two of the team behind who have to travel by road to catch up with us!). At Carlisle we head for the Eddie Stobart Group seeing the famous trucks lined up outside  - this is  Gordon's second visit to the company where they have worked hard together to address issue around fuel prices and business investments that have seen this company and many other like it grow in recent years. Gordon's speech here about the path to stable economic recovery is well received with lots of good questions to follow up at the end.

And then on to Scotland for Gordon’s final pre-poll event - this time a speech in Dumfries and Galloway – a passionate rally cry about all that Labour has done and will do for our country.

This morning we have already been out to vote, and now it is time for the British people to decide. Whatever the outcome I have enjoyed travelling around the country in this campaign and meeting so many wonderful people. Gordon and I have heard the issues that you have raised on jobs, schools, hospitals, policing and the future for your children. It has been the greatest privilege to spend so much time with you all. Thank you for following my election journey here and, in case there is any doubt left: #imvotingLabour

My Day Twenty Eight

I started the day on the GMTV sofa doing a joint TV interview with Gordon.  This is a big first for me and I am actually very nervous although being with Gordon who has been a sofa regular over many years does make it a bit easier.
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My Day Twenty Seven

When I went to Duckie at the Vauxhall Tavern on Saturday to celebrate 13 years of Labour delivering equality and LGBT rights, I thought I got the warmest possible reception (helped along by the fact I drew the raffle and in a lucky sign the winner was – a pink Number 10!). But my welcome, it turns out, was as nothing compared to the one Gordon got at Citizens UK. You can see him below.  That’s the man I know and love, and I couldn’t be prouder of him and of the commitments he made on Labour’s behalf. ... more

My Day Twenty Six

10 stop tour of London gave us a chance to see some of our great ministers standing for re-election, and catch up with some new candidates who we hope will bring their own contributions to the Palace that is Westminster. It’s not a usual bank holiday Sunday (no sit down family lunch, no running round the local park, no reading the same Horrid Henry book six times in a row) – but a great day nonetheless.  So, on the hour, from the top, this was our day:
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My Day Twenty Five

It’s the final weekend of campaigning, so we have a busy few days ahead. Our early start on the train to Newcastle was lightened by the addition of Peter Mandelson to the travelling party. He’s always great fun to be around, and he’s incredibly passionate about the North East, having served as an MP there for many years. When we get off we are met on the platform by another huge champion for this part of the world – Chief Whip Nick Brown, who helps navigate us through the station when Gordon is mobbed by people wanting to shake his hand, give him a hug and pass on their best wishes for polling day.
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