Harriet Harman seemed to be doing a 'Bendy Wendy' on the Politics Show today:
Jon Sopel: We heard there from our North West political editor about this 'Toff Campaign' that you've been running. Now, Steve McCabe who's running the Labour campaign up there has talked about the Conservative candidate as being from an 'excessively privileged background'. What is 'excessively privileged'?
Harriet Harman MP: Well I think what they're saying is they're just putting a spotlight on, er, you know, the difference between, er, between the two candidates, and, you know, we're very...
Jon Sopel: I want to know what 'excessively privileged' is.
Harriet Harman MP: I, I think he's a multi-millionaire, I mean, you know, those are the, the, the issues being raised locally.
Jon Sopel: Well his parents are, he's a barrister.
Harriet Harman MP: Ahum...
Jon Sopel: So your parents' background counts, it's to be used against you?
Harriet Harman MP: Well, no, I think it's his, you know, his own, you know, personal situation and we're putting the focus on our candidate Tamsin, who is, er, a hard working mother of five and we think would be the very best representative for Crewe and Nantwich.
Jon Sopel: You're the niece of the Countess of Longford, you went to the poshest girls school in the country which gets the best private school results. Does that make you 'excessively privileged'?
Harriet Harman MP: Well I've never made any issue about my background and, you know, what we're saying in Crewe is we think that Tamsin is the best candidate, and, you know, we're putting the focus on her and how she would be a very good person to be Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich.
Jon Sopel: Can I show you the front page of your website...that's the front page of your website, I mean do you think that's positive campaigning?
Harriet Harman MP: Well, I think most of the campaign is focussing on, you know, the good that, um, has happened over the last ten years since Labour's been in government in Crewe and Nantwich and also our plans for the future and our very good candidate, that is obviously, you know, the best way forward.
Jon Sopel: I sense you feel uncomfortable with this campaign.
Harriet Harman MP: Well it's not the main focus of our campaign, erm, I mean you've, you've taken that, erm, obviously...
Jon Sopel: That's the front page of your website.
Harriet Harman MP: Yes. But it's not the main focus of our campaign, the main focus of our campaign is Tamsin Dunwoody as an excellent candidate and, you know, we think that she would be the best person to be representative for Crewe and Nantwich and we're proud of what the Labour government has done over the last eleven years, and have got a good programme for the future.
Jon Sopel: I mean, you know, this is another leaflet that's been put out, it says...'Tory boy application form: Do you think that regeneration is adding a new wing to your mansion?' I mean, we've seen a picture in the papers today of where Tamsin Dunwoody lives. It looks like a mansion to me as well. Isn't this just politics that harks back to a bygone era?
Harriet Harman MP: Well I think the reality is that under the Tories there wasn't any regeneration of any city areas, there was mass unemployment, that people who were at the bottom of society were really suffering, especially with the recessions, and Labour has focussed on cutting unemployment and ensuring there are good public services, and that's what we stand for, and that's what that's illustrating.
Jon Sopel: Are you worried the polls look bad for you?
Harriet Harman MP: Well I think, you know, we're, we're trying to campaign for every single vote we can get and I don't think there's any point at this stage with the vote on Thursday second guessing the decision that will be made by the people of Crewe and Nantwich on Thursday.
Jon Sopel: Tamsin, your candidate who you've spoken so highly of was asked...I saw a clip on YouTube where she's asked three times 'is Gordon Brown an asset or a liability?' and she pointedly refuses every time to answer that question. Isn't what Tamsin Dunwoody feels, your hand-picked by-election candidate, can't say a good word for Gordon Brown. Isn't that the problem you face in the country?
Harriet Harman MP: Not at all, I think what Tamsin is doing is saying that she's the one running for election in Crewe and Nantwich, not Gordon Brown, erm, but, you know I've got absolute and complete confidence in Gordon Brown, who has steared the economy through very difficult circumstances for the last ten years, and is exactly the kind of person we need taking the country forward when there is difficulty with the cost of living and food prices going up and, and the credit crunch that's been coming in from America.
