Sunday, August 01, 2004

'A Rough Diamond'

The Independent today states that former Northern Ireland Office special political adviser to Peter Mandelson, Patrick Diamond aged 29, has been canvassing Hartlepool constituency party members from a phone list not supposedly available elsewhere. This has prompted complaints that a party insider must have supplied Mr Diamond with a list of names and numbers of local party members - information that has not been made available to other would-be Labour candidates.

Clearly some questions are going to have to be answered in Labour party HQ on Monday, and Mr Diamond can expect a rough time.

The Independent also predicts the election could be held as soon as 30th September, but reckons 7th October as most likely.