This is very weak, sorry, Charlotte. So someone's nominal status counts more than the fact they pay all their tax in the UK? My distinct impression is that you fear Lucas, and are doing everything you can to destroy her: which paradoxically sends the signal to Labour voters that the real threat is Ms Lucas. You are building her credibility and campaign, not destroying it, through your tactics. I say this as a Conservative supporter with your best interests at heart.
- John Blatchford

Oh dear Charlotte - what a shame that your otherwise seemingly sure-footed campaign should feel the need to resort to such unpleasant personal attacks! There is nothing illegal about non-doms giving money to political parties, or even a candidate digging into his or her own pocket to fund their campaigns or political parties of choice. Regarding the latter Caroline Lucas and her fellow Green MEP, Jean Lambert, have always donated a percentage of their salaries to the Green Party. What folk are disgusted about are the public pronouncements of senior members in the Conservative party - William Hague in particular - that were deliberately dissembling on the question of Lord Ashcroft's status. Only a couple of weeks ago he wriggled and blocked questioning from Andrew Marr, when all along he knew the uncomfortable truth, as did David Cameron it turns out. The difference between a Green non-dom supporter's single £30,000 donation and Lord Ashcroft is, apart from the many, many millions of Pounds involved, is the fibs and half truths peddled to get the tax exile admitted to the House of Lords in the first place and the fact that his wealth appears to have bought him undue influence in a party seeking to govern us all. Are we to believe that the leader of the Conservative Party has been so unquestioning about this issue to claim to have only found out the truth so recently? Surely, if he has been kept deliberately in the dark for so long his course of action is clear? Get Lord Ashcroft to stand down as deputy chairman of your party. Incidentally, you are completely wrong that Caroline Lucas has not published her MEP expenses. You need to look on her website: http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk/general-expenditure-allowance/ A signal that you really have not descended into the old personal attack style politics would you to be issue an apology for spreading that untruth. I don't expect you will or that this post will get to appear on your site.
- TheSussexSquare

Dear John, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I do see the Green Party as a threat in this constituency and perhaps I focus on them more than Labour in the online environment because I am astonished at how much credibility the Green Party has been able to build on the back of their poorly understood or talked about eco-Marxist policies. However constituency literature is my main campaign tool and I hope you will see that I focus on positive messages - the need for a Conservative government and the need for a Conservative MP in Brighton Pavilion if we are going to bring about the change we need. With best wishes, Charlotte
- Charlotte Vere

Dear TheSussexSquare, I fully take on board all your comments - thank you for sharing them with me. With regards Caroline Lucas' expenses as an MEP, so far we have only seen a few months worth of the General Expenses Allowance, nothing at all on the Travel Allowance. There is, I believe, a way to go. Best wishes, Charlotte
- Charlotte Vere

It seems that you will never be satisfied on this one. As you must know MEPs can claim travel expenses between Brussels, Strasbourg and their constituencies and if you cared to delve onto her website you will have found that she claimed £11,540 in the first 7 months of 2009. I am sure that the remaining claims will soon appear too. Perhaps you need to delve into Caroline Lucas' website further to discover more: http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk/euro-parliament/#pay
- TheSussexSquare

Dear TheSussexSquare, Thank you for your comment. I have seen that travel allowance figure. I understand that MEPs have to submit expenses now though to claim it and I would have thought is perfectly reasonable to publish those - if transparency in politics and expenses is a campaign theme. Best wishes, Charlotte
- Charlotte Vere

Your words were " nothing at all on the Travel Allowance" and yet here were figures openly published all along. Be brave, deep breath and apologise for misleading the voters of Pavilion on this. Less mud please and let's try and avoid slinging it in all directions. The logic that leads to this kind of negative campaigning is beyond the overwhelming majority of voters. You may think that if you sling enough dirt. whether it is true or not, some it will stick and make you look as a result. It doesn't. It diminishes you and the whole of the political process. No wonder we voters are getting so turned off by politics and politicians.
- TheSussexSquare

Thank you for your comment, TheSussexSquare. I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Providing a figure of over £11,000 for seven months of travel is not in my opinion providing transparency on expenses. There is a difference between mud slinging and pointing out problems and inconsistencies in principles and policies. I believe it is best termed as scrutiny and all I am hoping to do is scrutinise. Best wishes, Charlotte
- Charlotte Vere