Stephen Bates, Conservative Westminster candidate for Newcastle North, kicked off day 1 of the General Election campaign bright and early this morning by meeting commuters and parents on the school run early in his Newcastle North constituency. Stephen Bates said "although it was bitterly cold early this morning on day 1 of the campaign, the sun shone very brightly. It was good to be out of the traps early this morning and to start as we mean to go on. It was great to meet and talk with voters and to explain why the only way to free Newcastle North from the shackles of Ed Miliband's Labour party this time around, is to vote for the fresh positive progressive compassionate competent Conservatism for which I stand"