The Tory candidate in Portsmouth South has not taken too kindly to party sources telling Guido that their local association is “broke and in complete disarray”, and that “they are proceeding with a hopeless candidate”. Flick Drummond may be tested sooner rather than later though; tomorrow is judgement day for Mike Hancock. The sleazy LibDem MP and local councillor faces a misconduct hearing at Portsmouth City Council to determine whether to launch a full investigation over his inappropriate harassment of a mentally ill constituent. If this goes badly for him and he is suspended it could trigger yet another blue on yellow by-election. Back in 2010, Guido exclusively revealed some of the texts the beardy-weirdy was sending and a full dossier of complaints was also sent to, and promptly ignored by, Clegg’s office. Hancock has been dodging the meeting for months, but will be relieved it is being held in secret without the press or public. Friends of the woman in question told the Sunday Express:

“The man needs to go. She has gone through absolute hell and all she wants is justice. She could not face seeing him at the meeting but she will be fully represented.”

As reported in yesterday’s Sun column, UKIP are looking to build on their success in Eastleigh and are already on the ground opening campaign offices and poaching respected local Tories to run the show. The LibDems may be broke, but given they control the council they will be confident of their chances. It all sounds very familiar…