Dirty tricks and petty politics

I haven't commented on the Labour tactics in Crewe and Nantwich, largely because there really doesn't seem to be any merit in them whatsoever - they descend beyond parody into farce. The combination of class politics, racist dog-whistling and ineptitude is beyond condemnation from me. Gordon Brown seems to have realised that this sort of thing is helping no-one except the Tories, and is trying to row back from it far enough to have a semblance of deniability when the results come in on Friday.

But in trying to justify all this top-hat nonsense, Brown says something downright weird.

"These things happen in by-elections," the prime minister said on BBC Radio Stoke.
Mr Brown recalled that, in his first election, he was followed by a kilt-wearing piper whose purpose was to remind voters he was Scottish.

Well, given that his first election was in Edinburgh South, and he was standing against Michael Ancram, the Scottish son of the Marquess of Lothian, precisely who was this piper trying to frighten? It's surely complete nonsense.