Predictable so far - for Norwich

Will he? won't he? in an uninspiring and largely predictable week the only real item of interest is the continuing disarray of the Labour Party over the by-election.  the national Party, we know, would prefer to wait as long as possible and hold all its by-elections together for obvious tactical reasons.  Unfortunately for London, the local Party doesn't want to play ball and Harriet was met by a resounding vote for the by-election to be called immediately.  

Sophistry around not wanting to be without an MP over the summer (they really want a Tory MP???) and not allowing the Greens to build on their European and Local Government success can't disguise the fact that it was really a two-finger gesture from a still seething local Party.  Sunday's selection meeting will be fascinating!

Meanwhile young Chloe continues to age as her national minders continue their relentless pursuit of the record for summer visits by shadow cabinet members to one constituency; and faces another visit by Cameron. The Green's predictably picked Rupert as their candidate, a safe if uninspiring choice whilst the local Lib Dems obviously decided they didn't want to win (or wanted a plausible excuse for losing) by picking scary April.  I suppose I should exempt Clegg from the choice as he upset the local party in a desperate 'anyone but April ( and preferably famous)' search.  Already with two visits, he will be back, and it will be interesting to see how he gets on with the locals.

Predictably the Lib Dems are writing to everyone asking for a clean campaign, whilst putting out a press release that describes Rupert as an extremist and claiming that only they can beat the Tories.  Even more predictably, Tory blogger Iain Dale is taking an interest in the by-election from the safe distance of London, sustained by local party insider tittle tattle.  

Sadly it does look as if the collapsing Labour vote will be split between Greens and Lib Dems, leaving the Tories to sneak through the middle.  There is hope in that the Tories clearly don't have the candidate they would have chosen for a by-election, and neither Rupert or April are very appealing locally.  A good charismatic independent could yet shock them all.