'I agree with Nick' seemed to be the catchphrase of choice from last week's TV debates and I'm a bit surprised no-one has designed a t-shirt with the slogan.

Now it seems Gordon Brown has gone one step further than agreeing with the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and is actively encouraging a love-in by failing to rule out a Labour-Lib Dem coalition Government should we end up with a hung parliament on May 6.

When questioned about the idea, Brown said "there is common ground between Liberal Democrats and us" although a part of me thinks he may be worried that his election is turning into a one horse race - between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems.

Another thing I have been pondering over the last couple of days is where has Vince Cable disappeared to?

Up until last Thursday's TV debate (historic if you remember rightly!) Cable was shadowing Clegg on every public engagement like a kindly old grandfather accompanies his bullied grandson to the school gates.

Now, after the leader's strong showing in front of the nation, he has cast Cable aside (or has Cable set him free?) and he seems able to fly solo.

Seems a bit strange that the roles have been reversed, especially seeing as one cruel hack at the Lib Dem's manifesto launch was overheard mischievously asking another member of the press corps who the fella next to Cable was.

I met the three candidates who will be standing for UKIP this morning.

Ian Sidaway, Harry Lamb and Neil Johnson all have their own reasons for shunning the mainstream political parties and standing for UKIP and seem very passionate about their party and its messages.

You can read all about them in tomorrow's edition of The Bolton News.

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