Here in the UK RB has played on his 'joker' image & at one time was a leading comedian. He went to far and played an obscene telephone call prank on a well-respected actor. His current main claim to fame is to campaign for the unlimited right to put white powder up his nose. Recently he debated (if that is the right word) with Peter Hitchens (brother of the late Christopher) on Newsnight, a BBC2 current affairs nightly programme. Hitchens made dignified mincemeat out of him. Brand promised to kiss PH and played his usual "I love you all" clownish game. He is still admired by the BBC/Guardian set, but even some Leftists think he's a prat.

Pamela-Russell Brand's main claim to fame here in the UK is as a campaigner for the legalisation of unlimited drug use, and he always comes accross that whatever issue he is discussing it is always about him.

Clarke's Loony Left prisons policy is impossible to defend and in fact every Tory I know, including myself, openly say we think it's dangerous and threatens us. Clarke is one of the worst politicians we have. His face fits, so in 40 years of being a professional politician he has been given chance after chance & is still there at the top doing harm. In the past his lies about Europe were bad enough. Now he really is a menace.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the same Richard Ottaway who when he was elected unexpectedly MP for Nottingham North said he had agreed with the constituency chairman only to come up at weekends and never made any effort to live in the constituency and dig in politically? He then got selected for a safe seat when he lost Nottingham-as a reward not for hard work but for winnning by accident. I'd never heard of him since then.

Before the election DC said the government used the payroll vote too much-and now look. Above any question of principle, this is a practical mistake, Without a truly independent private arena to air disquiet and raise issues backbenchers are more likely to move staright to rebellion. I don't think we want that. The 1922 Committee as previously constituted provided a safety valve.

Welcome Paul-but a huge loss to the HOC

I enjoy very much reading these campaign posts. But is every candidate convinced that they really have a public profile? How do they know? They clearly work very hard and sacrifice a good deal. But hard work does not invariably lead to success.