May 21

After a weekend in which the Dormobile was allowed to recover from having its engine removed, rebuilt and replaced - by the magnificent Peter Sharpe in Hull - our baby had its feet up in the car park at Pebble Mill through Saturday and Sunday. Now we have begun to put it through its paces again.

Birmingham welcomed us with the early rush hour: the smoke and crawl of the M6 and M5, the interchanges and junctions, all spaghetti. Tuesday's piece shows the highlight of the trip so far: more exciting than Peter Mandelson's John Nott moment, more gripping than the feisty exchange with the photographer at John o'Groats who said the VW was spoiling his view...better than all of that was the fleeting instant when we found ourselves in the fast lane of the M6.

Okay, so we were doing no more than 35 because of the congestion. But for a few seconds we were there. And the moment was captured by cameraman Frank from a bridge overhead.

The Prescott punch changed the voltage of the election campaign. We drove from Hartlepool to Hull last Thursday to find out what his constituents thought. After the breakdown (that's the camper van, not the producer) we discovered that most were sympathetic. No, he'd never lashed out in Hull; no, he probably shouldn't again if he wanted to stay Deputy Prime Minister; but yes, fair dos if you've got a face full of egg and a short temper.

We feel we're heading south rather too rapidly for our own editorial comfort. Coventry, then Cardiff for an interview with Plaid Cymru; but what after that? If we dive towards lower England any more enthusiastically, we'll find ourselves in the sea somewhere off Hove. Suggestions please. Sadly Sean Woodward seems to have had quite enough media attention already. The Dormobile would have fancied that; your suggestions are welcome.

 Click here to watch the transport debate

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Jeremy's diary entries:

May 8 - John o'Groats

May 10 - Glasgow

May 13 - Newcastle

May 16 - Hartlepool

May 17 - Hartlepool

May 21 - Birmingham

May 25 - Bristol

Jeremy's letter to Bristol Council

May 29 - Dorset

June 5 - Cornwall

June 6 - Land's End

The van's fate

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Click here to download the Newsnight Van Screensaver