Today Hartlepool, tomorrow ... Lib Dem

First woman to stand in Hartlepool since 1943

Jody Dunn is the first woman to stand in Hartlepool since 1943, and in the early days campaign workers were still sneaking stunned glances at her, as though fearful she might vanish into smoke. Her one disadvantage was geography, for she came from a village called Gainford, near Darlington (30 miles down the road), so was not technically a local. But no one considered this a serious problem - and, besides, she had moved into a marina apartment the day after her selection. Fordham seemed at a loss to articulate her qualities. "Well, you've met her," he would give up, spreading his hands. What else was there to say?

On August 27, Dunn had written in her blog about a dispiriting evening out canvassing with Simon Hughes. "It didn't just rain last night, it poured," she wrote. "In fact the evening became one of the more farcical moments of the campaign. We'd picked what appeared at first to be a fairly standard row of houses. As time went on however, we began to realise that everyone we met was either drunk, flanked by an angry dog or undressed."

The blog had continued with a joke about how Dunn looked like Worzel Gummidge in the rain. Ed Fordham had checked the copy as usual before posting it online. Nothing he read had sounded alarm bells.

The Labour printing machines turned again, and this time Hartlepool woke up to the news on its doormat that Dunn had accused them all of being "either drunk, flanked by an angry dog, or undressed".

Yet gradually, before everyone's eyes, the town was turning orange. More and more Jody Dunn posters were appearing in Labour strongholds, eclipsing the spots of red in windows. The Lib Dems had simply refused to believe the NOP poll, and had marshalled an army of activists from accross the country.

The message was a shrewd conflation of disaffection with Blair, and concern for the hospital. Labour can't be trusted on the hospital, their leaflets insisted; Blair has lied before, and he's lying again. The canvassing line never wavered; if you're fed up with Labour, Jody Dunn is your first chance in 40 years for a change . . .

The Lib Dem printers hummed through the night: Labour can't be trusted on the hospital, the Lib Dem leaflets insisted; Blair has lied before, and he's lying again. Their message never wavered; if you're fed up with Labour, Jody Dunn is your first chance in 40 years for a change.

On the doorstep, she charmed and dazzled: "Give me a chance. If I'm rubbish, you can get rid of me at the general election next May. Just try me out." A woman opened one door and began screaming: "You've got a cheek coming here! I heard what you said about people in Hartlepool!" She jabbed a finger hysterically. "How dare you?" Ten minutes later, Dunn walked away, and a Lib Dem poster went up in the window.