Tory party big beast dropped into the Leicester Mercury on Tuesday afternoon.

But it was the call to our office before his arrival that puzzled us.

“Hello could you help us out,” his press assistant asked, “how do we get to the Mercury from junction 20 on the M1?” Ken was muttering away in the background about the confusion.

A helpful reporter with a better head for directions duly stepped in and led the way, but surely a key player like Ken should have a sat-nav to help him tour the country?

Despite insisting that he was just half an hour away, he didn’t arrive at our reception for a further 60 minutes.

Speculation that he’d taken time out to enjoy a Bolivar Petit Corona in the spring sun before arrival was unfounded…

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