you may not like john leech and his politics Alan, but surely you accept he's been an exceptionally hard working MP and councillor? I'm not a Lib Dem, never have been, never will be, don't even know what most of their policies are and wouldn't recognize most of their front bench, but I'll vote for him on the basis of his personal record.
An MP or councillor's job is to represent his constituents' interests and to work on their behalf. He does so very very hard.
Martin, Marie Louise wasnt a victory for John, although he came along, worked for it and helped as usual (unlike Lucy Powell...). It was a victory for bloody minded dogged resistance by locals who refused point blank to be ridden tough shod over by the council. Those locals came from every shade in the political spectrum. In fairness to John, he was the only local politico who put any noticable effort in - as usual - and that is also probably why a lot of people of different political shades will continue to vote for him. I can point on my road alone to a right wing tory, socialists, greens, labour supporters, apathetics who all vote for him. Party activists tend to forget that element of the equation, maybe because it is so inconvenient for them.
