Sal Brinton

This evening all six candidates met again at BBC Three Counties at their Luton studio for another debate, with Roberto Perrone acting as ring master. The BBC team had been out in Watford, asking shoppers in the centre of town what they key issues they wanted to raise with the candidates.

With six of us answering most of the questions, there wasn't much time for many issues but we covered a wide range of topics. Inevitably school places and the hospital and health campus came up, as well as the effects of the recession on Watford. I raised my continuing concern about support for the young unemployed in our town, now a shocking 24%.

Simon Hughes speaking to the Watford Liberal Democrats at my Adoption meeting

Monday evening saw the Watford Liberal Democrat Adoption Meeting, and we were very fortunate to have Simon Hughes, from Bermondsey and Old Southwark and former President of the party as our guest speaker.

Simon is much loved in the party, and is a brilliant speaker, combining humour with a very liberal vision of Britain. He's travelled the country in support of  Liberal Democrat candidates over the years, and some of his train journey stories of sharing trains with his beloved Millwall supporters had us rolling in the aisles.

Candy Piercy chaired the meeting, and asked the members to formally adopt me as their candidate for  the General Election, and it was wonderful to be unanimously elected.

I spoke about the long journey that we've had in Watford over the last five years, and how much we want to see a much fairer Britain. In particular, parents have found it harder to get their children into the school of their choice, and the County Council had to admit in December that it is 1500 places short (and are proposing a shocking 41 temporary classrooms to solve the problem, rather than opening new primary schools to replace the ones that they closed in 2004.

I also talked about the importance of the Health Campus, and how Dorothy Thornhill had led the partnership that has made the scheme possible. Through my role as Deputy Chair at EEDA in 2003/4, I was able to see the land deals completed to make the whole health campus and affordable housing scheme fit in with Vicarage Road.

There were a couple of hundred members in the room, and Simon ended the evening with a fundraising appeal, which raised a very generous amount for the three campaigns we are running for 6 May, the Parliamentary, Dorothy Thornhill's relection campaign as well as 16 councillor elections. Thank you all!

at the Watford African Caribbean Association hustings

Sunday afternoon  saw a busy meeting of the Watford African Caribbean Association, with four of the six parliamentary candidates attending.  Clive chaired the meeting very well, and we managed to get a reasonable number of questions in, including the responses and some debating with the members of the association which was very welcome.

Questions covered parents concerns about the lack of school places in Watford; antisocial behaviour; how we ensure that young people (especially from the African Caribbean communities) don't get caught up in the criminal justice system; and how the UK manages to look after our increasing older population.

It was also good to chat to people afterwards, and talk further about the issues that mattered to them.

Liberal Democrat women helping women at the Watford HQ

Today the Liberal Democrat Campaign for Gender Balance have come to help in Watford. Their campaign is called "Women helping to Elect Women", and I'm very grateful for their help.  Some of the women who've come to help can be seen in the photo - others are out delivering and canvassing.

The Campaign for Gender Balance has been doing sterling work over the last decade, providing training, mentoring and support for women candidates, so that the Liberal Democrats can increase the number of women in parliament. I've been training women candidates since CGB was formed, and it's wonderful to see some of them in parliament now.  Candy Piercy, my campaign manager, is head of training, and Ros Gordon is the Chair. Vicky Booth is the staff officer who is doing a fantastic job supporting target seat women, and I'm very grateful for all their help.

Liberal Democrat next generation! Reporters have commented on how many women are helping Sal's campaign

Ros arrived today with her lovely baby Alex, who is now four months. This photo shows them with Zoe and 11-month-old Katie Salter - the next generation are already active in Lib Dem campaigns!

Yesterday the reporters from Dow Jones commented that they had never seen so many women in a political HQ. We pointed out - tongue in cheek - that Sam, my Agent, is our token male!

At the Watford Asian Community Care lunch at the Stanborough Centre

Zaheer and I dashed from the DRUM  exhibition up St Albans Road to the Stanborough Centre, where Watford Asian Community Care (WACC) had brought together their four groups for a special lunch. There were about 100 elderly people from the asian community, who rely on WACC for the lunches, and the social contact that this provides.

There was live music - very loud, and taking requests for songs, mainly (but not only!) from Bollywood movies, and some dancing by the members. I chatted to a number of the volunteers and trustees for WACC, who were excited about the growth in the groups, and how the lunch clubs are extending help, either medical or social, for many of the elderly residents who were often feeling isolated at home.

The food was delicious. We were served vegetarian dhosas, typical southern Indian cuisine which is a cross between a pancake and a wrap made of rice flour, which I and the family love. Tim's Mum and Dad were both born in Hyderabad, and we try as a family to eat at southern Indian restaurants, but they are few and far between. Please can we have some in Watford!

Sarah from DRUM shows Sal the puppets at the DRUM Exhibition

There are some very special community groups in Watford, and certainly DRUM are very special! I've been impressed with their work since I first saw it a few years ago, and yesterday confirmed how life enhancing this group is for its members.  Sarah, the DRUM manager, is a bundle of energy, and everyone there, from members to volunteers, say she is inspirational.

This year's exhibition has a wonderful range of various forms of art, from traditional painting, to collage, puppet making and pottery. The members of DRUM are all disabled, either from a life-limiting illness such as MS, a stroke, or were born with a disability. Their cheeriness was evident yesterday when  Mel and Jill arrived, dressed as Noddy and Big Ears (see photo!).

Noddy and Big Ears meet Sal at the DRUM exhibition!

I talked to Angela, who told me that her confidence had developed greatly since she joined DRUM, and that was also clear from her brilliant paintings. I loved the contrasts in her work: she had a pretty and traditional country cottage painting which contrasted with an almost abstract black London taxi at night. She also painted a  great view of the Houses of Parliament from the Lambeth side of the river at night.

Malcolm seems to specialise in portraits of famous pop starts, which are brilliantly executed. I particularly liked the one of Mick Jagger singing, which has really caught his character.

DRUM won an Audentior Award in 2005, and it was certainly well deserved. They are mainly funded by  Herts County Council, and  provide a real life changing support to people with disabilities.  Thank you for your welcome yesterday!

Malcolm talks to Sal about his paintings

Friday was typical of days on the campaign trail: very busy from start to finish. In the middle of the morning I was interviewed by two reporters from Dow Jones.com in London, who are writing an article to appear in the Wall Street Journal next week.

They were interested in both my local campaign, but also the uncertainty amongst voters, including core traditional voters of the two main parties, and that certainly is similar in Watford.   We were able to show them round our HQ, and they also talked to Candy Piercy, my very experienced Campaign Manager. Looking forward to seeing what they say!

Nick Clegg launches the Liberal Democrat campaign in Watford

Nick Clegg arrived at St Luke's Church, Langley Way, this afternoon to launch the national Liberal Democrat campaign in Watford.  He and I met around 60 young adults, many from the YMCA across Hertfordshire, but also from some local school sixth forms and St Luke's Church as well.

Nick answering questions from first time voters at St Luke's

Whoever says that young people are disengaged from politics should have been there today. The questions ranged from the size of the deficit and the economy, whether PFI is an appropriate form of funding for the public sector (especially our new hospital here in Watford); how we fund our universities; what Lib Dems believe education is for. After the formal Q&A session, Nick stayed on for ten minutes to take a few informal questions and photos.

We then left the hall to meet a fantastic crowd of Lib Dem supporters to cheer Nick onto his battle bus, which then took him on the first leg of his journey to Liverpool.

We had plenty of TV coverage, and when I managed to get home I saw the Twitter exchange during Nick's visit, especially from Elaine Bagshaw, Sara Bedford and Chris Whittaker.

A tiring but very satisfying day. Polling day in one month, with plenty to do before the polls open. Thanks to my team all their hard work, and for the next four weeks.

Victoria Derbyshire brought her 5Live show to Watford this morning, interviewing local residents and all six candidates (so far declared!), as well as callers and text/email messages.  We all met in The One Bell, at the bottom end of the High Street, thanks to the Landlord Bob.

There were three residents who chatted to Victoria first, expressing their worries about our hospital and the NHS, the slow recovery of the economy, and safety on the High Street late at night.

We were somewhat sidetracked  by Gordon Brown's trip to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament on 12 April, but it was definitely worth it to see the General Election getting under way.

It was interesting to try and have a six way debate - difficult, but I think it was managed without too much over-talking. It was, in the main, courteous and civil, and we parted ready to hit the campaign trail.

Great Action Day all day at HQ today, with plenty of people coming in to take deliveries of my latest leaflet out all over Watford.

We had arranged a briefing at 4pm, and the HQ was filled with the team, and visitors from outside Watford. It's an exciting week, with the launch of the General Election campaign tomorrow, as well as the Victoria Derbyshire show on 5 Live interviewing the parliamentary candidates at  the One Bell between 10 and 12. On Friday BBC London TV are coming up to meet the candidates and floating voters, and in between plenty of canvasssing and some casework.

Sal's birthday tea at Campaign HQ

My birthday was last Thursday (1 April - the most embarrassing day of the year to have a birthday!), but as I had a full day's campaigning, I ignored it. My team, however, laid on a birthday party this afternoon, with plenty of cakes, including gluten free cake for me made specially by Sara Bedford. There's even an embarrassing photo to go with it - see right - and many, many thanks to my wonderful team for the lovely surprise.