The coming months will see a general election and local elections across Notts. The normally dormant and unresponsive political classes are being brought out of their boxes and wound up for the occasion, giving rise to all manner of unlikely promises and public appearances.

On Saturday, Gordon Brown made an amazingly brief and security-shrouded stop at the University of Nottingham, as part of his pre-election tour. Before local political veteran, Lord Biro, could find him he was on his way to Glasgow.

The zeal of the Labour-led City Council's cut backs on community spending are allowing Tories to set themselves up as unlikely saviours. Their prospective Parliamentary candidate for Nottingham South, is promising to save Radford Unity Complex from closure. Not all of the electorate are convinced though - the Broxtowe Tory chairman was savaged by a dog whilst out leafleting in Beeston.

Meanwhile the nasties are on the rise. The fascist BNP have put up a record number of candidates across the East Midlands, although they still can't hold a meeting without attracting major protests.

Newswire: Brown Launches Manifesto under media security blanket | BNP announce candidate in Mansfield | BNP candidates in the East Midlands | Radford community on the march | Report on protest against BNP Sutton meeting | It's a dog eat politician world

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