MENSCH & THE TIMES - WHAT'S GOING ON?

Page 15 of The Times today carries a piece by Sam Coates, Deputy Political Editor, about a poll 'published by Lord Ashcroft' who is sometimes described as a Tory grandee. The first thing one sees on the page is a photo of the remodelled Mensch with the caption Louise Mensch: voters backed her right to quit. There is also a photo of Lord Ashcroft.

Coates' piece does not say who actually conducted the poll but states that 'the poll revealed widespread sympathy for Louise Mensch's decision to join her husband in New York - 83 percent of Corby voters backed Mrs Mensch's decision to quit as the constituency's MP, agreeing she is "perfectly entitled to put her desire for a better family life ahead of continuing as an MP"'.

Someone is being incredibly naive here. First, the constituency is not just Corby, it is Corby and East Northants (or Northamptonshire if you want to be picky about it). Secondly, there has been no polling here in my part of East Northants since 6 August (that's just 11 days). Thirdly, the claim that all Corby voters could have been polled - all would include Labour voters wouldn't it? - must be rubbish. Perhaps someone, we don't know who, asked a few Tory friends what they thought about it.

This is junk journalism. It says what I should imagine our outgoing MP would love to be true but it can't be true.

For the first time in ages I have written to the Editor. This is what I said:

Sir,
The article by your Deputy Political Editor, Sam Coates, in today's Times concerning the departure of 'our' MP, Louise Mensch, contains a statement that suggests someone has been pulling the wool over his eyes and he has failed to spot it. First, the consitituency is Corby and East Northants, not just Corby. I live in the constituency, but not in Corby. I live in Oundle and voted for Mrs Mensch in the General Election. If a poll was conducted then there was no evidence of it here. It is claimed that the poll shows that '83 percent of Corby voters' backed Mrs Mensch's decision to join her husband in New York. Is Mr Coates saying that every single voter was polled? Impossible. The statement must be false.

Here in Oundle where Mrs Mensch lives I have not heard a single word of approval of her decision. I think I can speak for many Oundle Conservative voters (and these were the people who probably brought about her election) by saying that the overwhelming reaction is that we have been used as a stepping stone in Mrs Mensch's career and now we have been 'dumped'.

Labour will assuredly win the by-election and why is that, I wonder?

Keith Diggle

Will it be published? Watch this space.

(For those new to this topic, go five steps down the list of posts and read my views on this strange business)