Tamworth Hustings 5 days to go

Everyone is telling me that this is destined to be one of the most closely fought elections there has ever been - and it is definitely the most closely fought election since the last one! -  they are also telling me that there is a real difference in financial policies and there is a real difference in housing and in health and the welfare state and immigration and the like: but when I ask, not a single should can tell me anything: They all point to personalities!

Then they either applaud or engage in as hominem or vitriol or historic dislike of a particular party or (often now dead) significant figure. 

Now I am silly enough to believe that voting should be done on policies of the parties and the candidate before you. There will be times when the party line has to be toed (oh that this was the case with the Church) but there are times when the viewpoint and personal values of the MP are in display - and when that happens, what do you expect them to be standing for - if you don't ask, you won't know will you?

Polls appear static today - but there's a long journey before the ballot box is engaged - remember popularity can go down as well as up!

Conservatives 34%

Labour             33%

UKIP                13%

Lib Dems          9%

Green Party      5%