Uxbridge - Defections, politicians pressing the flesh of eager voters and in-fighting at by-election headquarters are the stuff of British by-elections, Rachel Donnelly writes.
"Labour are riding roughshod over the people of Uxbridge. The views of the local people seem to count for nothing," declared the Conservative Party chairman, Lord Cecil Parkinson, during a whistle-stop visit to the constituency yesterday.
His message echoed some of the bruised feelings of the people of Uxbridge, west London, as they faced the prospect of a host of politicians descending on them before the by-election next Thursday. Although it may be a strong Tory seat, Uxbridge is seen as the first test of the Labour government.