Election nerves fray in knife edge seats
In the final week to polling day, accusations of dirty tricks are flying around in two of our most knife-edge constituencies. The latest spat involves the Tories and Lib Dems in Broxtowe, where there's talk of legal action.
The dispute centres on disclosures in a Lib Dem election email. It claimed that the Tory candidate Anna Soubry attempted to gag a local newspaper from covering Harriet Harman's photo op in the Labour constituency.
Her campaign manager has sent a furious email to the Lib Dem's David Watts demanding an apology and retraction. The Tories point out that Anna is a celebrated former TV journalist and believes in freedom of the press. Such claims damage her reputation, say the Tories
In response, David Watts has told Anna's campaign organiser "not to be so silly". He says his email newsletter never mentioned Anna by name or the Conservative Party.
There's been a similar bust-up in Gedling, another Labour marginal seat. The Tory candidate Bruce Laughton has apologised to some shop keepers after comments he made.
He had allegedly complained about shop window posters that blamed the local Conservative council for imposing car parking charges.
The shopkeepers were so outraged at the alleged comments made to them by Mr Laughton, that the matter ended with the police... courtesy of a tip-off from the local Labour Party.
He was later interviewed by Nottinghamshire police, although no further action was taken.
But both incidents show that nerves are fraying... as the clock ticks to election day.
Hello. My name is John Hess. I'm the BBC's Political Editor for the East Midlands and this blog will offer my musings on the political scene from Westminster to closer to home. 
