It's the SON wot lost it

I'm in Telford today for the next leg of our Prescott Express tour. After rampaging Tory council candidates dressed in John Prescott masks, I've come to expect the unexpected!

But bar that isolated incident, I've been bowled over by the response we're getting on the street. There's no love for Cameron and it really is all to play for.

This is the first campaign since 1997 where we won't have national newspapers, other than the Mirror,  on our side.

I remember all too well how Murdoch's papers character assasinated Neil Kinnock in 1992 - remember the light bulb with his head inside saying "Will the last person out of Britain please turn out the light?" This is the same kind of vitriol Nick Clegg and Gordon are experiencing now.

Gordon's treatment by the Sun over his letters to soldiers was nothing short of cruel and vindictive.

The man who wrote those articles was their new Political Editor, Eton-educated Tom Newton Dunn, who reportedly told other hacks:

"It is my job to see that Cameron f**king well gets into Downing Street." 

And the stakes are high for some press barons who've already committed to the Tories. Now it looks very clear they won't be able to deliver that Tory majority victory - and they absolutely HATE it!

Chief amongst them is Murdoch's son James. He convinced his dad to let the Sun back the Tories back in September. Since then the poll rating for Cameron Conservatives has plummted from 41% to 33% - the Tories' lowest rating since Howard's election loss in 2005.

James Murdoch's reaction? To stamp his little feet and go nasty. Not only did he and Rebekah Brooks turn up at the Independent's offices to bully the editor Simon Kellner, but they've chosen to target others who publicly criticise them.

I've always hated the Sun and Murdoch. I was never happy with their endorsement of Blair (NEVER Labour, always Blair.)

But last week they blatantly LIED about my campaign. And today I'll expose it.

This is a picture taken at my visit to Southampton the other week - printed in the Sun under the headline - "No Prez-ence'

The copy underneath read:

BOOMING Labour heavyweight John Prescott cuts a lonely figure on the campaign trail yesterday - talking to a near-deserted street watched only by a man in a mobility scooter.

Prezza, 71, was trying to fire up support in Shirley, Southampton, for local MP Alan Whitehead, who joined him standing on a stone bench.

Now we took photos at the same event. See if you can spot the difference.

Oh look - it's a crowd!

More than 30 people were listening. We didn't plan it. We just turned up outside the local Sainsbury's.

Chatting to people afterwards.

Having my photo taken with a father and son after my speech.

Frankly lies like this just fire me up. In fact, I'm now expandng our 5,000 mile Prescott Express tour of Labour seats from 50 to 71 (one for each year of my life) to help our candidates across the country and ensure Murdoch - senior and junior - see this front page on May 7th.