THE Liberal Democrats were mocked by local rivals at the last general election when, buzzing with the confidence brought on by Clegg-o-mania and the telly debates, they invested in paid leaflet deliveries to heighten their hustle of Frank Dobson in Holborn and St Pancras. It turned out to be a wasted effort, and simply led to the charge that the local branch did not have enough supporters willing to volunteer their services for the arduous task of daily election drops.

But now it turns out the Conservatives have done more or less the same thing, with the local party in Hampstead and Kilburn confirming they have brought in some paid help over the summer holidays for doorstep deliveries. Just to cover this period when a lot of enrolled supporters are enjoying a break away from London, you’ll understand.  

The outside assistance was revealed when – and here comes the bumbletronic bit – a hired hand arrived at Labour candidate Tulip Siddiq’s home pad near Finchley Road at the start of the month. To gain entry to the block, it is alleged the paid deliverer said she was handing out an important council communication. On closer inspection, it was actually one of Simon Marcus’s dispatches about the awfulness of HS2.

Imagine the scene as Tulip turned red with anger at discovering what was being thrust in her hand and tried to order the poor soul caught in the crossfire out of the building. All she would tell me was that it was a ‘total circus’.