Robert Kilroy-Silk is at pains to deny that Veritas, the party he set up after failing to seize the leadership of Ukip, is a one-man band. But the party's chronic shortage of funds and candidates, together with Kilroy's loathing for the national media, has left Veritas struggling to be heard. Some voters who supported Ukip last year do not even realise Kilroy has left the party. That explains why, in at least one of the constituencies which Veritas is contesting, the official candidate feels the need to add the words ("Leader - Robert Kilroy-Silk") underneath his name and address.
Incidentally, another postal voter - this time in City of London and Westminster - tells me that the Veritas candidate there gives his address on the ballot paper as 3 Little Britain, EC1. Fans of the sitcom might like to know that the street is not far from that other bastion of Euroscepticism, Petty France.
Veritas, meanwhile, is claiming credit for foiling an attempt to handcuff Ruth Kelly in Bolton last night. "As a single father who has been through the same restraints process as many of the fathers for justice members I fully understand their cause, but to rugby tackle and accost a lady government minister in an attempt to make their point is not the correct way in which to get their voice heard," said Ian Upton, the Veritas candidate for Bury North.
