DID we miss something, or has a General Election been called?

The political insults flying about the place certainly make it feel as though the starting pistol's been fired.

Andrew Waller, York's deputy council leader and Lib Dem challenger for Hugh Bayley's Westminster seat, has accused previous Conservative election rivals of running scared.

"My 1997 Tory opponent Simon Mallett seems to have given up on York entirely, and shall be standing in Chorley as the Conservative candidate there," he tells the Diary. "Strange because he is still living in York. I am sure he may claim the Tories have a chance locally, but he is clearly not going to waste his time trying."

Coun Waller points out that the 2001 Tory candidate for York, Michael McIntyre, has also abandoned the city in favour of fighting for votes on his home ground of Tynemouth.

We caught up with Simon Mallett, and he confirmed that, yes, he has been selected to run for the seat of Chorley.

"It's a good idea to try something new," he said. One factor which may have helped fuel his spirit of adventure is that the Chorley Labour majority is only 8,000 rather than nearly 14,000 in York. Simon says he has received a warm welcome from the Lancastrian voters. But it is clear where his heart is. "I'm still embedded in York and actively involved in the place."

He remains a vice president of York City. "They're not doing quite as well in the last few weeks as Chorley FC," he notes.

"Chorley have scored a few more goals. But it's not quite as easy to get excited about Chorley FC as York City."

According to Simon, York is not on the list of the Lib Dem's top 36 target seats. The perfect chance to hit back at Coun Waller.

"This must be a disappointment for poor Andrew," he said.

"Although it might be a relief to him, because it will give him more time to spend on the council. The Lib Dems' popularity has been on the wane since they got into power." It's going to be a long seven weeks.

LIKE the Diary, C P Hird has seen the light. And it's red.

"Your observations on traffic lights at New Lane do not surprise me," he writes from Haxby.

"You will find similar set-ups all over York where you have to wait for the lights to complete their turns with no traffic running anywhere.

"Go to Leeds and you will find all lights turn to green automatically when there is no traffic elsewhere.

"Maybe the Evening Press ought to highlight these lights in the same way you got action on CCTV cameras."

Any more observations?

WE'VE already had some excellent contributions to our plan to launch Republican Ascot for non-royalists and will feature some of these tomorrow.

More ideas are needed, not least: who should be patron of the event? Nominations for Queen equivalents welcomed.

WHO is the press contact for Knowsley, the only safari park in the north of England? That would be Mr Lyon. Grrr.

Updated: 08:45 Wednesday, March 16, 2005