After three MPs made snap announcements over the last 48 hours that they are stepping down at the next election, that brings to five the running total of candidate vacancies in Tory held seats. I assume they will be seeking new candidates after next month's elections.
They cover a wide geographical spread and the details of each are as follows:
Constituency: Sleaford and North Hykeham
County: Lincolnshire
Retiring MP: Douglas Hogg
Notional Majority: 12,687 (24.2%)
Second place party: Labour
Constituency: Skipton and Ripon
County: North Yorkshire
Retiring MP: David Curry
Notional Majority: 11,596 (23.4%)
Second place party: Lib Dem
Constituency: Woking
County: Surrey
Retiring MP: Humfrey Malins
Notional Majority: 6,612 (14.4%)
Second place party: Lib Dem
Constituency: Gosport
County: Hampshire
Retiring MP: Sir Peter Viggers
Notional Majority: 5,730 (13.3%)
Second place party: Labour
Constituency: Totnes
County: Devon
Retiring MP: Anthony Steen
Notional Majority: 2,693 (5.8%)
Second place party: Lib Dem
I dare say that the county council and European election campaigns in these areas may be getting more mutual aid than usual...
Jonathan Isaby
