The national and local media all led with the news on Saturday morning (27 March) that Mr Brown was to visit Nottingham to launch the Labour manifesto but none of them said where!

After ringing 'round I finally got an Evening Post reporter, “we can't say where he is, it's security”. After more pleading, “he's at the University of Nottingham”. I grabbed one of my campaign posters and jumped on the bus to the University. No sign of him! “He's down on Triumph Road” said the bus driver. Got another bus and walked to the Jubilee Campus on Triumph Road.

Lots of media satellite vans but where's Brown? According to a bloke loading a van, I'd just missed him by 20minutes. He's on his way to Glasgow after speaking to would-be Labour MP's and local party activists. No general public or demonstrators to be seen! Another Triumph for Labour spin, security scares and media collusion.

So much for Brown's quote on the front page of the Guardian “I feel that I am pretty open with people and I needed the chance to talk to people directly.” (27 March). Also sadly he didn't see my poster, because if anybody deserves a top hat from the elite – it's him!