On Friday I met up with mums, voluntary sector workers, Labour Party activists
and Parliamentary candidates in Brighton. Simon Burgess, who is the Labour
candidate for Brighton Kemptown, and I met with a group of residents in
Cafe Deco to talk about what issues are affecting the lives of local
people. It became clear from our conversation just how much the next
election is a choice - a choice between a Labour Party that works hard to
protect frontline services and backs up ordinary families versus a Tory
party that would only take care of a privileged few.

I then had coffee and cake with a group of women who work in the voluntary
sector and with Nancy Platts our Labour candidate for Brighton Pavilion. It
was interesting to learn how deeply worried these women are about the
bigotry and intolerance that is right at the heart of the Conservative
Party following Chris Grayling's recent remarks. The Labour Party has done
all we can to ensure that the government backs up the LGBT community, but
the recent bigoted comments of the Shadow Home Secretary only give licence
to homophobic attitudes.

I also met up with local activists in Hove and went to door-knocking with
Celia Barlow who is fighting hard to ensure she is re-elected. The group
were in high spirits meeting lots of voters and having important
conversations about the future on a sunny day in Brighton.