A colleague reports in a private forum that a 14th Feb by-election is bringing out the love in Preston.

Labour’s leaflets are running with, “On 14th February, say it with roses”

Our leaflets have “Give LibDems a “X” on Valentines Day”

But Respect have gone for a rather unsavoury strapline which hardly trips off the tongue – “Make Valentines Day a Massacre for the mainstream parties”