Please understand that I’ve been a bit busy and so I haven’t sadly been able to blog as much as I would have liked, what with the general election (and local elections in Stockport and Tameside (have to keep my councillors sweet!)). I know the first rule of blogging is keep things up to date, so I apologise.

Even in a constituency like Denton and Reddish, a parliamentary candidate’s diary very quickly fills up. I’ve had the official campaign launch; opened a £6m new primary school in Audenshaw; opened a new play area at a local SureStart centre in Haughton Green (both done before I officially ceased to be an MP) and today I’ve had a school visit and a hustings both in South Reddish. Tomorrow, there’s the delight of our street stall at Houldsworth Square in Reddish, too!

Anyway, for any candidate, elections are a very hectic time. We are completely obsessed by polls and newspaper headlines. We stress about nomination papers, getting leaflets from the printers, batching them up and getting them delivered. We are absolutely fixated on canvass returns and voter ID; but of course, the reality is that while the rest of the population may have a passing interest in the election, most people are just getting on with their daily lives.

So how is the election for you so far? Two weeks in and lots of leaflets and direct mail delivered, media coverage galore, and the first-ever televised leaders’ debate… has the election campaign in 2010 set you alight yet?

PS, only three weeks to go!