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Blackpool has joined the chorus of councils in poorer, urban areas who insist the cuts to local government are unfair and deeper than the government portrays.

But there's a big difference with ... it is a Conservative council. Its warnings are more difficult to dismiss.

The to any council is 8.9%.

But that's because ministers have changed the way it's calculated.

Blackpool insists its real cut is 16% or £27m. Seven hundred jobs will go, 400 could be compulsory.

What's particularly painful is the way the government is cutting area based grants which support poorer areas.

The Tory Leader of , Peter Callow, says he doesn't think the government has got its sums right or understands the position the town is in.

Cllr Callow has already spoken to the Prime Minister and is Eric Pickles.

"I'm hoping any reasonable person would hear my plea and where I'm coming from," he said.

But the government has already taken a tough line on local government spending and there's nothing yet to suggest it will change that.

And Paul Maynard, the Conservative MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys has a different perspective:

"I understand the challenge the council is facing. But you need to look at the overall picture of public spending.

"In Blackpool we have had increased spending with the pupil premium, the public health premium and on infrastructure.

"This money aims to help poorer areas like Blackpool, it's not just about local government," said Mr Maynard.

I asked Peter Callow whether he agreed with those who say the government is letting down poorer areas?

"I understand that... at the moment it appears to be the case. If you ask me again after I've seen Eric Pickles - if I don't get anything out of it - yes, I will agree with you," he replied.

Apparently has offered the delegation "tea and sympathy" but "more tea than sympathy".

Cllr Callow and other North West council leaders may need a stiffer drink.

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BNP Leader Nick Griffin and BNP candidate Derek Adams

The Leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin, was in Oldham East and Saddleworth for his first day of campaigning on Tuesday.

There was plenty of speculation that Mr Griffin himself would be the candidate.

But he is not on the ballot paper.

"I was probably going to be the candidate," Mr Griffin told me.

"But over the Christmas and New Year period when I needed to get the election addresses done and photographs, I was snowed-in in Wales.

"I couldn't get here.

"Derek Adams was available. He's a big local character. So I'm very happy to be supporting him."

Derek Adams is probably best known for running the Ace of Diamonds - the BNP's favourite pub in Manchester, before the city council subjected it to a compulsory purchase order.

The got almost 6% of the vote at the general election.

The was narrowly behind them with 4% of the vote.

Drive through the constituency and it's difficult to miss the billboards advertising UKIP's candidate, the North West Euro .

, UKIP's Leader, started a two-day campaign visit on Tuesday to support his colleague.

And the BNP is very much in his sights.

"I was absolutely determined we chose a strong candidate and fought a big campaign," Mr Farage told me in a local pub.

"I want us to thrash the BNP here.

"There's no room for that kind of extremism in British politics."

This apparent battle for fourth place might have more significance than is immediately obvious.

In previous elections the have won a large number of protest votes.

Where will those voters turn now that the party's in government?

UKIP believes that many voters who supported them in the European elections, turned to the Lib Dems at the general election. Despite the fact that the parties have such divergent views on Europe.

How many of those disenchanted Lib Dem voters exist is one of the critical unknowns in this by-election.

How many will turn to ?

How many will turn to minor parties like UKIP or the BNP?

And how many might turn to their coalition partners, the ? Not as a protest vote but because they believe the Tories can now win.

The answers to these questions will help decide who wins here.

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