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Really lively Tory-Labour discussion on the Politics Show today.

A real election feel beginning to kick in now - let's hope we're not all exhausted by it in six months' time.

And as one of my guests Lord Bates pointed out afterwards, there's genuine debate to be had now with key differences between the two main parties on spending and the role of the state.

That's something which has not always been there in the last decade.

The that the Conservatives have a mammoth poll lead.

But some of the policies could be a tough sell in this region.

I was the warm-up act on Friday for Radio 4's Any Questions in Walbottle, in Newcastle.

There were some in the audience who had been won over by Cameron's Conservatism.

But one public sector worker said the Tory policy of a pay freeze had cost them his vote.

They went onto question a good panel anyway, including William Hague, Nick Brown and Sir Ming Campbell.

I've done the warm-up for the programme a few times now, and they always produce the odd surreal moment.

And it's always great to drop into conversation about how you spent part of Friday night in a taxi with Ming Campbell.

He was reminiscing about a rugby tour he once went on in Newcastle.

By the sound of it, this visit to the North East was a tad more sober than that one!

And they're good for name-dropping.

This time I managed to persuade presenter Eddie Mair (Jonathan Dimbleby is on holiday) to record a message to my girlfriend (an avowed fan) on my mobile phone.

Humiliating possibly, but it got plenty of bonus points in the bank for me!

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