PENDLE is the definition of a ‘swing’ seat changing hands with, or in advance of, the prevailing political wind.

Sinc e being created in 1983, largely from the former Nelson and Colne Constituency, it has been held by the Tories in two elections and Labour for four, returning to the Conservatives in 2010.

Andrew Stephenson’s majority of 3,585 is among the most vulnerable in the country let alone East Lancashire unless David Cameron masterminds a late blue surge.

In 1992, Gordon Prentice’s 2,113 vote victory was an early warning of Labour’s 1997 landlside despite John Major’s Tories hanging on to power.

Labour’s Azhar Ali will hope for at least the same result even if Ed Miliband does not win.

With five candidates including a Green, UKIP and a LibDem, Mr Stephenson trumpets the redevelopment of Brierfield Mill as a sign of better things to come and coun Ali highlights the state of Nelson town centre as the reality of coalition Britain.

Bookies odds of 8/11 on a Tory victory and 13/8 on Labour to win justify Pendle’s reputation as a ‘key marginal’.

The candidates are: Azhar Ali, Labour; Laura Fisk, Green; Graham Roach, Liberal Democrat; Andrew Stephenson; and Mick Waddington, UKIP.