The secret diary of an election photographer - Day 25

Snooker loopy, nuts are we....

Today Nick spoke at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield before the players came out for the afternoon's semi-final play in the World Championships. As a Sheffield MP, Nick has been working with the (Lib Dem) council to keep the World Championships in the city and it was great to hear that they will stay in Snooker City for another five years at least.

Nick chat was fairly light-hearted, but he couldn't fail to mention the gaffe of the week. Not Gordon Brown's off camera but on mike comments, but the announcement by announcer Rob Walker that Dennis Taylor was taking the baize when he actually meant Steve Davis.

After that talk, Nick emerged from the venue to a crowd of Sheffield supporters including his youngest supporter, three week old Emily Otten. Needless to say in his own city, the reception was rapturous. I certainly hope that Sheffield Central's Paul Scriven will be elected as one of the new Lib Dem MPs next Thursday. It was he and his team who secured control of the city council two years ago - an achievement that Nick descrives as the greatest of his leadership.

Earlier in the day, Nick drew his biggest crowd of the campaign so far. We arrived at Leicester University to find a crowd of more than a thousand. There was some good natured banter with a few Labour supporters in the crowd and, whilst they managed to get their Labour posters into a lot of the TV shots, there were also some more Lib Dem friendly signs - see the photo (right) for some examples.

After Leicester we went to Derby for an altogether more sedate visit. Smiths of Derby is a family firm that makes and repairs large scale clocks for public buildings. They are currently building one of the largest clocks in the world for a building in China and Nick also saw the four faces of a clock from the old Woolwich Arsenal which are being renovated by Smiths.

The big news at the end of the day was the announcement by the Guardian - for long the standard bearer for New Labour - that they are enthusiastically backing the Lib Dems this time.

Tomorrow we head west to visit Wells, Newport and Malvern before an overnight stay in Manchester. It being Saturday, Miriam will be on board - so expect even more media attention.

The secret diary of an election photographer - Day 24

The final debate day...

As usual on debate day, relatively quiet. Probably the best thing for the TV guys who had a big night last night. I've seen some of the photos from the karaoke bar - and they ain't pretty.

The event of the day was a trip to South Birmingham College where Nick answered questions from students. This was possibly the most combative questioning Nick has received all election - especially from 26 year old student Maya Black who questioned him about Lib Dem plans for training and paid internships for young people who cannot find work. I think it's safe to say that May wasn't happy with Nick's answer. What's key, said Nick, is that young people need to keep as busy as possible and be in contact with people in work so that they don't give up and slide into a lifetime of unemployment.

On the way out, one student looked quizzically at Nick and asked - "Aren't you Something Clegg?" "Yep," Nick replied, "I'm Something Clegg. I'm Nick".

In other news, Nick's campaign tour is now so popular that an extra campaign bus is going to be on the road to accommodate all the extra journalists from this weekend. One of the spaces on the bus is apparently being taken by the NME.

Oh, and Iron Man 2 is not worth seeing.

The secret diary of an election photographer - Day 23

Oh boy, computer problems again. Nice to see a pic of mine getting a big spread in the Guardian but less pleased that they 'forgot' to credit it.

A very busy day for Nick started with interviews at the Work Foundation - our press conference venue - followed by a short trip to Bush House for an interview with BBC Radio London's Vanessa Feltz.

Then back to the Work Foundation for more interviews - including one with the Evening Standard's panel of voters - and to record an short film for an Operation Black Vote rally in the evening which, due to other commitments, Nick was unable to attend in person.

Then it was onto the bus for the trip to Oxford. On the way Nick had a series of interviews including one with Matthew Engel of the FT - formerly the Editor of Wisden - and another with the Times' Michael Atherton, formerly England's cricket captain. A quick word about Athers - he's a really nice chap who was more than happy to accommodate all the requests for photos from the many cricket nuts on the bus.

In Oxford, Nick met Steve Goddard, our candidate for Oxford East and took questions from the students at Oxford Brookes university.

Back on the bus we headed for Birmingham in anticipation of the final leaders' debate.

The secret diary of an election photographer - Day 22

Today Nick got a standing ovation from the Royal College of Nursing Annual Conference as he pledged to put the professionals at the heart of the NHS.

With more managers and administrators in the NHS than there are hospital beds, it is clear that action needs to be taken. But that should not mean yet another disruptive revolution in the Health Service. This message went down very well with the audience who also warmed to the Lib Dems' pledge to raise the income tax threshold so that nobody earning less than £10,ooo a year will pay any income tax at all and those earning more will get a £700 tax cut.

The day started with a train ride to Southampton with a carriage full of journalists. On the way, Nick was interviewed by the Times as well as drawn by their resident artist.

Among the snappers with us today was Guardian photographer Dan Chung, a very old friend of mine, who spends most of his time working for the paper in China these days. At the first visit, Dan talked his way into a very privileged snapping position (see photo).

The visit in Southampton was to the General Hospital with Sandra Gidley and Vince Cable. The ward they visited was the paediatric oncology ward where they met young patients and their families living with a variety of cancers. Despite their illnesses, the ward was an incredibly cheerful place and the staff wonderful.

Silly story of the day featured ITN reporter Angus Walker who has been with us for the duration so far. Unfortunately he spilled chicken supreme sandwich down his tie and had to get a replacement. Simple enough you would think. But having recorded some pieces to camera already, he needed on which matched the original. Step forward Jon the battle bus driver who was wearing exactly the right shade of blue. I only hope that his boss doesn't regard a tieless driver as bad for his firm's image...

Tomorrow, apparently, we will be joined by former England Cricket Captain Mike Atherton - in his capacity as a journalist.

The secret diary of an election photographer - Day 21

Apologies for the late posting. Had significant computer issues. But thanks to the wonderful work of Simon Waddington in the Lib Dem Press Office, everything is hunk dory (touch wood).

The day started with a press conference in Edinburgh in the bright sunshine at Dynamic Earth overlooked by Arthurs Seat.

Nick was joined on stage by our Scottish Leader Tavish Scott for a presser that was dominated by questions over hung parliaments. Of course, the media are interested in this and it seems the most likely outcome of the election if the current polls are to be believed. But the Lib Dems, just like Labour and the Tories, are still campaigning to win the election. We have set out our key aims in this election and it really should come as no surprise to anyone that these will be our key aims if we have to talk to any other party post election. It would be dishonest of any party not to demand what we told the electorate we would. I wish the other parties would be as open.

After the presser, we were off to the Lady Haig poppy factory where Nick met former servicement who make the poppies and wreaths for Remembrance Day in Scotland.

It was a fantastic place to visit and the staff there were hugely welcoming and Nick was keen to try his hand at making poppies himself.

The secret diary of an election photographer - Day 18

The day Nick offered me an ice cream and I turned it down...

Another debate over and another debate won for Nick Clegg - in my opinion and that of three of the five polls anyway.

And, for the first time in a week, we had the plane back again. So it was an early start to catch a flight to Newcastle and a rapturous welcome by local supporters before a visit to the Newcastle College of Aviation.

The college trains students in all aspects of the aviation industry and, at least from my point of view, was a great venue for photos.

After that, it was back on the plane for a flight to Norwich. Amazingly, we arrived early and had time to pause to stretch legs in a lovely leafy part of the Norfolk countryside just outside Norwich. Which is where the ice cream story comes in. It being my birthday, Nick offered to buy me an ice cream to celebrate. As the words left his mouth, the photographers ears pricked up. All sorts of dodgy images and captions came to mind and so, for the sake of the party, I respectfully declined.

The visit to Norwich was to a Morrisons store to chat with staff and customers - as well as to supporters. Great to see so many there and a fantastic reception.

Incidentally, whilst speaking to supporters, Nick was asked about the best part of the campaign so far. He said there were two - the incredible number of young people who have registered to vote and are now campaigning and the #nickcleggsfault hashtag which has taken the twitter-verse by storm since the attacks on Nick by the rightwing press.

The secret diary of an election photographer - Day 17

I must be ill, I turned down a ticket to the media centre for tonight's debate kindly offered by the Sky guys I have been working with for the past couple of weeks.

As mentioned before, there was just a single photo op today - with Bristol NW candidate Paul Harrod at a mum and toddler group in the city.

As ever, the press were out in full force for the event but, luckily, the coverage inside was 'pooled' ie only a single TV camera and two photographers (myself included) were allowed in. It means there is space to work and, in this case, there is no danger of small children being bumped into. Because there are only limited cameras inside, the footage taken is share between all media outlets.

After the photo op, it was back to the hotel to collapse and wait for the debate...