Back on the bus with the Forces of Hull

I'm spending most of my time back on the Battle Bus touring marginals and safer seats, getting supporters ready for the fight ahead.

We've already campaigned in Reading, Leeds North West, Manchester Withington, and the North East. You can watch my interview on the NE Politics Show here (about 40mins in)

This week we're off to North Wales and Cheshire visiting Ruthin, Holywell, Wrexham, Chirk, Crewe and Nantwich and Chester.

But I'm expecting the real interest around my visit to a certain little seaside town just up the road from my birthplace of Prestatyn.

It's been 9 years since I campaigned Rhyl in 2001. I'll always remember when Tony called me after THAT scuffle. He asked me what happened. I said: "I was only doing what you told me - connecting with the electrorate."

This Friday I'll be addressing a rally in Rhyl for the local MP Chris Ruane and I hear they're lining up as visit to a local boxing club.

Which is fitting as we've replaced Things can Only Better with another campaign song on the battle bus.

It's the Theme from Rocky!

Our battle bus has also changed - gone are the days of the coaches. Instead, we campaign just as well on a hired Ford Transit, with a sat nav, magnetic branding and a removable PA system.

The on board team now consists of Graham and Lynn Petrini, Danny Marten and my son David - all come from my constituency. I call them the Forces of Hull!

But to highlight how times have REALLY changed, in Sunderland, someone asked me to sign a book.

I assumed it was mine. Then I saw a familar face on the front cover.

I was signing Pauline's book!