The visit by David Cameron and George Osborne to Eastbourne on Friday was presumably based on a last minute decision following the fire on the Pier on Wednesday. The residents and visitors to the town must have felt very pleased that such a devastating incident was followed up so quickly by the Prime Minister and his Chancellor, bringing with him a promissory note for £2M. The residents and business owners from near neighbours Brighton and Hastings, both of whom have experienced a severe fire on their own piers will surely wish that they had been so fortunate. It is inexplicable why the decision was made to award the sum to the town, let alone the process adopted to ensure that this was the best way of spending public money. The contest to claim greatest profile for this largesse between the incumbent MP, Lib Dem Stephen Lloyd and his challenger Conservative Caroline Ansell did not create any space for the Labour candidate in next years General Election, although even the Eastbourne Labour Party website does not seem to be promoting whoever they expect to compete next May.

The East Sussex seaside towns were not left without a Labour story on Friday. Almost by coincidence Ed Miliband was eating an ice-cream along the coast in Hastings whilst Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne took a stroll in Eastbourne. The Pier in Hastings was badly damaged in 2010 and its restoration is beginning, however had some of Eastbourne’s £2M been offered, the residents of Hastings would have been thrilled. However the battle between Sarah Owen (Labour) and Amber Rudd MP (Conservative) will need to be fought without the rabbit out of the hat decision by Ambers old boss, George.

Whatever the next few weeks bring, we can be certain that all three of the largest Political Parties will be employing their most photogenic assets in as many places as possible, and in the case of the Conservative team, doling out our money as though it was theirs to give, in a myriad array of random acts of kindness, hoping that we will match these with our votes in May next year.