You’re an independent candidate in a safe seat, where the incumbent MP is a minister. Your leaflet needs to make an impact, to raise your profile in the constituency.

The first thing you need to do, the absolute no-brainer, is to have your face super-imposed onto a symbol of hope that has a strong connection with the town you’re standing in. For example, if you’re standing in Blackburn, the Statue of Liberty would be the logical choice.

Next, you should probably have the word STOP! in big red letters above a picture of you making a gesture that looks reassuringly similar to a fascist salute.

Also, have a checklist of bad things the current MP has done. Try and over all bases; accuse them of being war criminal and a murderer, but also of “being insensitive”.

The last thing – and this is a biggie, this’ll show people you’re serious – the last thing you absolutely have to do, is get a picture of the defending MP and (this is the clever bit) mock him up like a vampire. Yeah, a vampire. Think about it. A vampire, with blood dripping from his mouth. That’ll work.

The PPC of this story is the, er, flamboyant Bushra Irfan, who was supported by the conspiracy nutjob and Independent candidate in Blackburn at the ’05 General Election, Craig Murray. Together they brought a bit of colour to the campaign. Ms Irfan stood in Blackburn this time around, polling fewer than 1,500 votes.

You can follow Conor on Twitter @conorpope.

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The man below is standing against Jack Straw in Blackburn. It all looks a bit Screaming Lord Sutch but Scrapbook isn’t convinced that this is for show!

I’m sure the Justice Secretary must be terrified.

*Don’t even start with “typical Labour arrogance” etc. We’re talking John Smeaton and Sir James Goldsmith here, not Martin Bell or Peter Law.

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One of the only punches Nick Griffin managed to land on the other Question Time panellists was something of a low blow. While his father saw service as a Spitfire engineer in World War II, Jack Straw’s old man was a conscientious objector.

The Suffolk Evening Star carried an interview with Edgar Griffin yesterday, detailing his two years “National Service” in India. Suspicions arise as conscription (and National Service) didn’t start until 1948 – three years after the war finished.

It’s a bit complicated but Unity has more over at Liberal Conspiracy.

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The addition of Tory peer Sayeeda Warsi to BBC Question Time on 22 October completes a lineup of Chris Huhne, Jack Straw and Bonnie Greer to appear alongside BNP leader Nick Griffin.

Reaction on the blogs has been mute, with Sunny Hundal questioning the appropriateness of a softly spoken, middle class American playwright (flanked by two white, middle class frontbenchers) to take on Nick Griffin:

“Middle class people generally hate cheap populism and the use of emotion to make political points. They prefer ‘rational argument’. Fuck that. The way to destroy the BNP is through emotional narratives and populism.” – Sunny Hundal

Further reaction available from Nothing British and ConservativeHome [will update this later this with more as it comes in]. The Times also has something from earlier today mooting Warsi as a possibility while arguing that William Hague would have been the better choice.

Scrapbook can’t promise not to shout at the TV.

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“The Tories will cut because they want to. It’s in their DNA.”

Jack Straw has just wooed the conference hall with by far and away the most strident speech delivery of any Labour minister.

No grey suits here!

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Following the announcement this week that Labour is to drop its policy on sharing a platform with the BNP, Justice Secretary Jack Straw is the latest name touted to appear on Question Time alongside BNP leader Nick Griffin.

According to Lancaster Unity, Gordon Brown is taking a “personal interest” in the issue and favours Jack Straw, whose Blackburn constituency has one of the highest levels of immigration in the country, as the man to take on the BNP.

“We have to put up a heavyweight, otherwise we will be accused of giving Griffin too easy a time of it.” – Labour Party source

“Street smart and funny” Home Secretary Alan Johnson has signalled he is willing to appear, while Labour blogger Chris Paul has suggested Billy Bragg, Meera Syal or someone else with the “means to ridicule his nastiness”.

For fear of sparking unrest in areas of racial tension, BBC sources have confirmed that the edition featuring the BNP will be filmed in London.

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