a protest meeting was organised in the constituency by staffordshire police federation on 19 march, to protest at changes to police housing allowances which they accused the government of having imposed despite an agreement to abide by arbitration; the organisers invited labour police spokesperson barry sheerman. the budget, two days before polling day, announced help to poll tax rebates and was praised by charles prior as "a highly responsible yet imaginative budget". however prior's relaxed manner in the last week of the campaign was taken by "the times" correspondent as an indication that he knew the election was lost and hoped instead to regain the seat at the following general election. "the guardian"'s patrick wintour thought that one of prior's faults was being too nice, and too rarely giving "the impression of a man willing to go for the jugular".