* It could have all been so different.

When Jack Straw visited St Mary’s College in 1979, a 17-year-old student was impressed by the “young, vibrant MP” before him.

“I would have voted for Jack Straw, and supported him,” he reveals.

But it wasn’t to be — 31 years later Michael Law-Riding is standing for the Tories against Mr Straw in Blackburn.

* “Stick with Janet” is the title of a new website launched by Janet Anderson’s team in Rossendale and Darwen.

It contains election pledges by the Labour politician and plenty of attacks on the Tories. But yesterday there was nothing in the “policy info” section.

It will be added to the site shortly, I am assured.

* Burnley Council has released a statement denying claims, in a BNP leaflet, of mistakes calculating councillors’ allowances.

* Blackburn residents have the chance to vote in style on May 6 at the Grade One-listed Pleasington Priory.

The 19th century Catholic Church is being used as a polling station for the first time.

* Supporters of Bushra Irfan, an independent candidate standing against Jack Straw in Blackburn, describe her as the “Asian Barbara Castle”, referring to his long-serving Labour Party predecessor, in their press releases.