LibDems abandon Crewe for Henley

It's becoming increasingly clear that the Liberal Democrats have more or less abandoned Crewe and Nantwich.  They are still working a couple of wards according to Tory sources so they achieve a respectable result but they know that only the Conservatives or Labour can win the seat.

This is obviously good news for the campaign in Crewe but we must get on with selecting our candidate in Henley.  Henley isn't included in the new tranche of selecting seats - just released.  Why are we waiting?  The LibDems have just adopted their candidate.  We shouldn't be giving him the opportunity to make inroads.

Anyway, back to Crewe:

Confirming what Eric Pickles told ConservativeHome yesterday, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson MP has also passed us this (Owen's North Shropshire seat borders Crewe and Nantwich):

"When I canvassed in Crewe for Patrick Rock in the 1980s, as an eager beaver, it was somewhat disheartening to be told to f*** off by staunch Labour supporters.  It was quite extraordinary last night to meet Labour voters who are openly switching.

A 40 year old woman told me: "My family have been trade unionists and Labour for 100 years - my Granny would turn in her grave but we're voting Conservative this time."

A 35 year old man told me: "I've voted Labour all my life but they can stick it this time."

Alternatively, they are clearly stating that they are undecided but are reading our literature and admitting that they like what they read about our candidate.  It must be unprecedented that busy, hard working people are spending so much time reading our leaflets so carefully when in so many other elections I have helped with, they have put them straight in the bin.  In the brand new estates where I picked up the quotes last night, the Labour toff attack is backfiring miserably, the attitude being that "If Edward Timpson has made a success of his life then good for him - that's what it's all about." Labour are also losing support by telephone canvassing with real aggression.  I am genuinely looking forward to getting back as soon as possible after Northern Ireland Questions.  Crewe and Nantwich has always been known locally as a Labour seat but I have never had such a reception as I had last night."

Related video: Labour's Crewe candidate repeatedly refuses to say if Gordon Brown is an asset to her campaign

Comments

[Peter S]

I believe the LDs in Henley have also dumped their existing candidate to get someone else!

[Jake]

No, Peter. Lib Dem PPCs automatically step down and submit to reselection if there is a by-election. It is a constitutional rule applied without exception.

[Alex Agius.]

Yes Peter S.

The lib dems NEW candidate for Henley is a chap from Plymouth.

[John F Aberdeen]

As Peter S said,, the LDs dumped their original Henley candidate and all without reference to their constituants and I imagine their local party.

Well here is how the Conservatives could show they are the real democratic party by holding and open primary to select the new Tory candidate. If we are serious about localism then here is an ideal way of demonstrating it by allowing all the local people to choose the new Tory candidate.
At the moment there is some arguments about Boris,s father running well how about CCHQ putting up a candidate, the local party doing the same plus any more,, I read today that Giles Brandreth is interested.

All the candidates will have to sell themselves to the local electors then after a couple of weeks, have a Question Time style debate chaired by some one like Andrew Neil, after that, use a combination of telephone, internet etc voting to select the candidate.
I,m sure they could utilise the excellent YOUGOV orginisation to carry out the vote.

The main point is that the Tory candidate chosen will be the popular choice of all the local electors, not someone foisted on them by the political parties, thus they would be more likely to vote Tory because of the interest created.

Its true that our political opponents might make mischief rather like Rush Limbaugh in the US who encouraged republicans to vote for Clinton in the Dem primaries because he figures that McCain will beat her,, yet even that has failed because Obama will be the Dem candidate for president.

Its been noted also that many thousands of people have signed up with the Democratic party since their primaries began,, who knows, the Tories might also be able to sign up more people for the party.
We are 26% ahead in the polls, have new and fresh ideas, are no longer the nasty party, Nulab now has that mantle, so why not give the idea of an open primary to select the new tory candidate for Henley a chance.
This is a fresh new idea that makes us different from the rest.

[HF]

I agree Editor, that we should have announced the start of the Henley selection process by now.

Regarding the Lib Dems, kicking out a 60 year old local female councillor in Henley has not gone down well inside the Lib Dems.

Also in Crewe the Lib Dems have wrecked their local operation for the foreseeable future by kicking out their previous PPC. An own goal.

[woodentop]

I've seen it mooted that Gyles Brandreth might be adopted for Henley - I think he'd be an excellent choice and it would be good to see him back in Parliament!

[Michael Purches]

How is is it good that the Libs have given up in Crewe? Wouldn't we like a few erstwhile socialists to waste their votes?

Michael Purches.

[Arthur Burgess]

Good news from Hastings and Rye. At Annual Council today, Conservatives took control when a former Conservative Cllr. now Independant voted with us and control was taken with the casting vote of Mayor. Cllr. Peter Pragnell is Leader of the Council again.

[Graham Smith]

I would very much like to see Derek Laud selected for Henley.

But he won't be. IMHO the only reason that CCHQ has pressurised Boris into resigning so quickly is in order to have a FEMALE candidate. Will it be an all-woman shortlist, I wonder? Or will there be a nominal man.

[sigh] Derek Laud is just the kind of Conservative celebrity who would encourage younger voters as well :-((

[Pamela Goodwin]

The former PPC for Hastings and Rye Mark Coote must be pleased about taking control there.

It's a shame that in his new seat of Cheltenham the Lib Dems have just taken control of the council.

Maybe it wasn't such a wise move after all?

[Paul Kennedy]

Yes Peter S.

The lib dems NEW candidate for Henley is a chap from Plymouth.

Posted by: Alex Agius. | May 14, 2008 at 14:54

Local candidate then. ;):D

[localboy]

As a resident of the Crewe & Nantwich constituency (not Crewe as you keep describing it) I see no evidence of the Lib Dems giving up. Their literature is still pouring through the letterbox (with Conservatives a close 2nd and Labour a poor 3rd). A trawl down Middlewich Street [a main route into Crewe] saw the poster count 50% Lib Dem, 50% Labour - and that's in the ward the LDs didn't even contest on May 1st.

Doesn't necessarily indicate the result, but doesn't suggest "giving up" !!!

[robert]

Lib Dems given up at Crewe ! Who dreams these things ?? Already most homes have received at least 6 items of Lib dem literature - more than from any other party.

[John Cotton]

I spoke to Sue Cooper (the former PPC) tonight and she told me that the moves to change came from "within the local party" - but not with unanimous support. Given that her husband is the local party agent, there could be more to this than would appear. Also, she seemed more sanguine about the whole thing than the story might suggest.

[Anna Sabetian]

To Pamela Goodwin: Despite the fact, that Liberal Democrats in Cheltenham have just taken control of the Council, the share of Conservative vote has actually increased.Mark Coote is a brilliant candidate. The Conservative success in Hastings saw it genesis in eight years, that Mark Coote dedicated himself to Hastings&Rye. His commitment and enthusiasm was outstanding, and he was the catalyst for a team of hardworking activists,joining the party. This hard work has been rewarded by the return of the Conservative Council in Hastings.
Mark Coote is also very popular in Cheltenham.I'm sure he's going to overrun the tiny nominal majority of 515 in due course.The local electons in Cheltenham were fought on couple of local issues. We might lose a fight, but we will win the eventual battle.

[Fred Brown]

What a oad of old tosh - if that is the case why are you lot delivering a leaflet tonight attacking the liberals if you don't see them as a threat!!??

[Jim]

Alex Agius.. you are posting very quickly on several new topics and yet I hear from many people you are a lib dem and a waste of space...

.. how do you respond to that?

[Geoff]

Robert and localboy... obviously trolls...

Firstly, this is the first by election in years where the tories have put through far more literature than either other party.

and as for posters I can tell you... Labour have the most in crewe north but almost non any where else... Libdems have a few right across the constituency but again for once the tories have far more posters than both the other parties right across all areas!!