AN MP knocks on the door of Karen Bate

And on Monday I got one. A political visitor stood there waving his little book of party promises in my face and asking me who I was going to vote for.

"Is that any of your business? And, if I tell you, you will just criticise my choice and give me all your reasons for not voting for them."

His face visibly fell, because he knew right there and then that I wasn't just snappy because he had interrupted a particularly crucial Eastenders moment but it was clear that I was not a supporter of his party and would probably never surrender to them even under the darkest of circumstance.

Suddenly I felt a little bit sorry for him and his weak sales pitch (MPs before a general election ARE just salesmen after all).

"What is your party going to do about the financial deficit? And what are your thoughts on another coalition government if no party win a majority, which will probably be the state of things."

"Among other plans we will be cutting welfare."

"So people who legitimately cannot work because of poor health or age related issues will be penalised by your Government if it gets into power? How will you identify who is a bona fide claimant?"

"No. People who genuinely deserve to be looked after by the state will be."

"Oh, like the Royal family?"

Silence.

"And large landowners and farmers who rake in thousands of pounds in Government funding?"

Silence.

While I am not anti Royal (I am ALWAYS mesmerised by the Royals at press events - so much so that my colleague claims I end up looking like a stalker at said events and he has pictorial evidence, which furnishes a particularly dark corner of the photographic department and they do bring in tourism to the country) BUT, they DO live on state handouts (to the tune of £31m).

And what about the tax dodgers who find legal loopholes to avoid paying income tax, are they not cheats?

You know it is all very well to harangue a minority of people who cheat the benefit system to buy widescreen television sets and Lacoste trainers and things like that but let's not forget that £204,000 of the Royal budget paid for by the taxpayer goes to Prince Philip (presumably for his contribution to the tabloids).

And then there are the one or two children of the royals, who in their late 20s do not seem to work in paid employment but spend much time jetting off around the world, courtesy of being born into the Queen Elizabeth II and Co.

I have never liked hypocrisy.

My colleague, who got wind of the commotion outside my front door and came to investigate.

"What are you discussing?" he asked.

"Benefit cheats and the royal family, what else on a Monday evening?"

The MP piped up: "I am explaining how we are going to reduce the deficit in this country."

Before he could have chance to explain what he was going to do, my colleague interjected.

"I think the Queen should give all her money to charity and I would put her in a council house in a heartbeat."

Even my two cats sucked in their breath and wince at the very idea.

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