Labour haven't given up hope in Crewe

The Labour party hasn't yet given up hope of holding on to Crewe and Nantwich seat in the byelection next week.

Steve McCabe MP, who is masterminding the party's campaign believes Labour's support is gathering pace.

"There is still a mountain to climb but even the Tories admit their share of the vote here is on the slide," he said.

"David Cameron has been up here three times and every time he does, the Tory vote goes down - I'm hoping to get him up here every day next week."

While insisting the Labour campaign is doing "quite well", McCabe says the outcome could be too close to call.

"I don't know what's going to happen," he said. "But we are not going to see quite the Conservative triumph that David Cameron promised at the start."

Much depends on whether the Liberal Democrat votes holds up. If their vote collapses Labour believe the Tories might clinch it.

But with the prospect of scraping a win very much in site, Labour is throwing almost everything at the seat that the late Gwyneth Dunwoody secured with a 6,999 majority just three years ago.

Although the prime minister is not expected to put in an appearance (McCabe bats away suggestions that Gordon Brown has become an electoral liability) - there has been no shortage of Labour activists on the ground.

More than 200 grassroot members descended on the constituency last week and that number is expected to reach 300 in the final few days of the campaign.

Jack Straw, Ed Balls, Douglas Alexander, Harriet Harman and Andy Burnham are among the Cabinet ministers who have been up knocking doors. James Purnell has been there twice. Former ministers Charles Clarke and Frank Dobson also made the trip north.

It remains to be seen whether their efforts turn out to have been worthwhile.

From: Guardian