Our reporter Ian Mason tries to track down Ann Keen in the Isleworth and Brentford constituency...

“Why won’t you talk to me Mrs Keen? Was it something I said? Something I did? Or something I wrote perhaps?”

I’ve been the reporter covering Ann Keen’s constituency for the past six months and in that time I’ve met her a grand total of – wait for it – zero times. To make matters worse, I’ve yet to even speak to her. Now I know what you’re thinking: “He must be a terrible journalist”.

But I can assure you I have made every effort to chat to the Brentford and Isleworth Labour candidate – even just to say a simple “hello” and introduce myself.

Despite a stream of emails and calls to her office reminding staff that I would like a meeting, my wish has never been granted.

I should confess a couple of weeks ago I was forced to cancel a meeting with Mrs Keen – breaking news meant I was unable to travel to her Westminster office. I asked if we could reschedule for a time and place in the constituency and was told by staff they would get back to me.

Last week I tried calling Mrs Keen’s office, again. A voicemail message told me that in the pre-election period I would need to phone her Chiswick High Road constituency HQ. Curiously, the voicemail message after my subsequent call to that office re-directed me to her parliamentary number.

Soon after I learned that a film crew for ChiswickLife TV had come across the same problem, paid a visit to the constituency office looking for answers and had the door slammed in their faces.

Mrs Keen’s election agent, Stephen Curran, later apologised to the crew, claiming it was a “misunderstanding between Chiswick TV and one of our volunteers”. The phone issue has been fixed.

On Tuesday, I decided to make another attempt to meet Mrs Keen, who once reportedly told an Evening Standard journalist to "get stuffed" after being questioned over expenses.

Hoping she would not say the same to me, I ventured to her Chiswick base. I had several polite and friendly conversations with Labour Party members – but alas none with Mrs Keen. I waited an hour. I later learned that someone from Mrs Keen’s office had phoned to say I could only meet her if I followed more formal channels.

I now know I need to tell her staff the nature of the interview, the range of subjects and questions, how long I expect it to take and whether I will be bringing a photographer, if I want to say “hello”.

My quest continues...