ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Dennis Skinner finds himself as Labour's new poster boy (at least in Barnsley)

By Jonathan Isaby

Following my account of my campaigning trip to the Barnsley Central by-election at the end of last week, I thought I'd share a little of the literature being published by the other parties.

The glossy Labour election address makes much of the fact that their candidate, Dan Jarvis, has spent the last 15 years of his life serving Queen and country in the Parachute Regiment:

But most interesting to me on the Labour literature was the appearance of veteran Left-wing MP for Bolsover, Dennis Skinner, who has not to my knowledge officially been sanctioned as a Labour Party poster boy anytime recently:

Labour set for massive victory in Barnsley Central and No2AV campaign launches anti-Clegg poster

Tim Montgomerie

The Mail on Sunday surveyed 507 Barnsley Central voters on Thursday and Friday aof last week and it reports today that Labour is going to romp home in the Barnsley Central by-election. Labour is on 63% in the MoS poll, the Conservatives are on just 13% and the Lib Dems on 6%.

The No2AV campaign are set to take advantage of the Liberal Democrats' unpopularity by unveiling the first of a series of anti-Clegg posters (as ConHome has recommended):

The text under the poster reads: Under the Alternative Voting system Nick Clegg would have the power to choose the government, NOT you. Say NO to spending £250 million on AV.

There are lots of Conservatives in Barnsley... but they won't all be voting Conservative next week

By Jonathan Isaby

After a stopover in my beloved university city of York on Wednesday night, I travelled to Barnsley Central yesterday - site of the latest parliamentary by-election - with three of the current York Tories joining me in the Isabymobile for the trip.

The by-election - caused by the resignation of the disgraced (and now jailed) ex-Labour MP Eric Illsley - takes place next Thursday and James Hockney (with whom I am pictured here) is donning the blue rosette in a seat which has been a Labour stronghold for over 75 years.

James stood next door in Barnsley East at last year's general election - the only candidate from any of the three main parties to have a track record of campaigning in the area - and has been heartened by the number of MPs and activists coming to lend him a hand.  Yesterday MPs Michael Fallon, Guy Opperman and Martin Vickers were among those doing their bit and there will be an especially big push tomorrow, the final Saturday of the campaign. Details of how to get involved are at the bottom of this post.

So what did we find as we knocked on doors in what is, on paper, such a safe Labour seat?

Well, apart from a slightly higher than average count of menacing dogs (with one such example pictured on the left), the reaction we got from voters to whom we spoke was, on one level, rather encouraging.

There was much discontent about the number of people who now seem to be happily better off on benefits than in work and a crackdown on this was felt to be needed.

People spoke in highly sceptical tones about the amount of power which has been ceded to Brussels.

There was anger about how immigration has got out of control over recent years.

The local council was castigated for an appalling record of failing to keep the roads in a good state of repair (I, and my car, can vouch for that) and for wasting money on new offices and vanity projects of no interest to most residents.

James Hockney: Help me hold Labour to account for failing the people of Barnsley Central

James Hockney is Conservative candidate for next week's Barnsley Central by-election.

We have been having a great campaign so far here in Barnsley Central and it has been fantastic to meet so many local residents whether it is on their doorstep, in the town centre or out and about in Barnsley market.  The team and I are working hard to canvas across the constituency and we’ve welcomed many activists coming from all over the country to help the campaign. 

Last Thursday we were joined by the Party Chairman, Baroness Warsi, for a walkabout in the town centre where we met and chatted with many local people about their concerns and issues.  And on Saturday, despite the cold weather and even a few brief snow showers, our street stall at the local Asda was well supported.

For what is supposed to be a Labour stronghold, I have been met with a great deal of Conservative support.   Many Labour voters feel let down and have told me that they are likely to stay at home in protest at Labour’s record.   After all, not only have they left the country paying £120 million each day just on the interest on their debt, but locally the Labour council has more than doubled council tax since 1997.  And as well as these hikes, the council has wasted money on a number of things – like the £32,000 they spent on a giant ‘art’ clock that no-one can read.

I believe, however, that in these tough times Barnsley Council should be doing all it can to help out families and pensioners by bringing in a council tax freeze – that would be a real aid to people here.

I know Barnsley, having campaigned here previously, and I have a real understanding of the issues and concerns that affect people here.  I run my own small business and launched the 'shop local' campaign last year so I understand first hand what it takes to get the local economy moving again.  That’s why I’m fighting for jobs and investment here in Barnsley.

While it’s a hard road to a better Britain, this Government has started to get us back on the right track. Barnsley deserves better than Labour, so do what you can to help us hold them to account.

Anyone wishing to assist James's campaign should email [email protected]. The campaign centre is situated at The Coach House, Berneslai Close (Off Churchfield), Barnsley, S70 2BQ, which is ten minutes from Barnsley railway station and easily accessible from the M1. Should you not be able to make the trip, you can also email to offer to do telephone canvassing from wherever you happen to be.

Former Conservative MP defects to Labour

By Jonathan Isaby

It has emerged this morning that Andrew Pelling, the former Conservative MP for Croydon Central and ex-London Assembly Member for Croydon and Sutton has joined the Labour Party.

A Croydon councillor between 1982 and 2006 and a GLA Member between 2000 and 2008, he was elected Conservative MP for Croydon Central in 2005, but after difficulties in his personal life was suspended from the Tory whip in 2007.

He then went on to stand as an Independent in the constituency at the 2010 general election (polling a little over 3,000 votes), claiming that being an Independent meant he was "now just a politician who ‘takes up local issues’, which is no bad thing".

But he has now joined Labour, which, as the Croydon Guardian reports, will "come as no surprise, as Mr Pelling has been rubbing shoulders with Labour since becoming an outcast from the Conservatives".

He tells the paper:

"I may have endured a difficult journey to get to this point but it has not been a difficult decision to join Labour. On a national level, the Labour Party have got it right on the economy. The Conservatives are cutting too deep and too fast.

"I found the Conservative Party in Parliament to be a party of privilege with little empathy for Croydon. With a few notable individual exceptions in the Conservative Party it was the Labour Party who showed compassion and concern for me in difficult times for me personally. I was very touched by this."

John Bell to fight Alyn and Deeside at the Welsh Assembly election

By Jonathan Isaby

John Bell was recently selected to stand in Alyn and Deeside at May's Welsh Assembly election.

A teacher, he has been highly active in Conservative politics in North Wales over the last few years, having contested Delyn at the 2005 general election and Clwyd South at both the 2007 Assembly election and last year's general election.

He said on his selection:

"I am absolutely proud and delighted to be given the opportunity to offer myself to the people of Alyn and Deeside as their Conservative Assembly Member. As someone who has lived in north east Wales for twenty three years and worked at both the now merged Welsh Collage of Horticulture and Deeside College while also training apprentices at Airbus Industries I obviously know the area well.

"My aim will be to represent Alyn and Deeside in a Conservative Welsh Assembly government that will bring back efficient, common-sense government to Wales and get rid of the incompetent Labour / Plaid Coalition that has taken Wales for granted for far too long. As we take the difficult decisions needed to deal with Labour’s disastrous economic legacy of a massive budget deficit and £1 Trillion debt, my priority will be the protection and expansion of the wealth-creating private sector and their jobs to rebalance the Welsh economy away from Labour’s over-reliance on public spending, borrowing, debt, bureaucracy and welfare dependency.

"As a teacher who believes education is the key to solving many of our social and economic problems, I will work to improve educational standards that lag behind the rest of the UK and, more importantly, our international competitors. Our children deserve no less. I will, of course, also be fighting against Labour’s £1 billion cuts to our health service."

Conservatives spent £39,432 in Oldham, less than Lab £97,085, LDs £94,540, UKIP £43,855

Tim Montgomerie

We already knew this...

IMPACT OF CAMPAIGNS ON VOTERS IN OLDHAM EAST AND SADDLEWORTH

Now Michael Crick has discovered the Conservative Party's low relative spend in the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election:

You can argue that it was a good decision to conserve money... but hopefully Sayeeda Warsi won't continue to treat us all as fools and say CCHQ fought the by-election with everything it had.

Matt Smith selected to contest Cardiff Central at Welsh Assembly election

By Jonathan Isaby

Conservatives in Cardiff Central have selected Matt Smith to contest the seat at the Assembly election taking place in May. He was educated locally and has been been appointed a Special Advisor on Education Policy by Welsh Conservative Party leader Nick Bourne.

He said on his selection:

"There is nothing more important to me than the success of Cardiff Central, the powerhouse of our city and the Welsh economy, whose service industries are the best possible vindication of service-sector revolutions brought in by Conservative governments.

"What draws me to the Conservative party is aspiration. I know how important education is social mobility and progress. It is hard to overestimate how vital it is that the people of Cardiff Central seize the opportunity to vote Conservative so that we can drive forwards reform of education, giving power to teachers, parents and school governors across Wales."

"In education, Wales has cause for recrimination against Labour. In 2001 Labour ditched school league tables and replaced standardised tests with teaching assessments, making comparisons between schools’ performance impossible. Such policies and the lapsed standards that accompany them took almost 2 points a year off GCSE grades per student and poorer students suffered most."

"I’m a Conservative because I believe in people more than I believe in the dead hand of government. In Cardiff Central and across Wales, electors face a choice between another term dominated by Labour-Plaid national decline management, or a fresh approach based on Conservative reform. Let’s not let Labour-Plaid push us over the tipping point, vote for change in Wales".

He is not to be confused with Matt Smith, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the neighbouring Cardiff North constituency...

Labour have failed the people of Barnsley Central - both locally and nationally

Nigel Adams MP is campaign manager for the Conservative candidate, James Hockney, in Barnsley Central.

With the Conservative campaign for the Barnsley Central by-election now well underway, I want to take a look at the impact of Labour on Barnsley.  Under Labour’s plans every man, woman and child in Barnsley would owe £22,300 in national debt.  Labour took the country to the brink of bankruptcy and you don’t have to look far in Barnsley to see why.

The sad truth is we’re paying £120 million every day just in debt interest. This money is thrown away paying for Labour’s mismanagement of the economy – and it’s the ordinary person who has to pay for it.  Barnsley’s Labour controlled council wants to scrap free swimming for families and is blaming the Government cuts, but they could get their own house in order first.

Let’s take a look at what Barnsley Council has spent money on:

• Over £1 million spent on trade union posts wages with 38 full-time union posts at the council in 2009-10.
• It spent £2 million on publicity while council tax was being doubled under Labour.
• £32,500 on a giant ‘art’ clock that no-one can read.
• Barnsley’s chief executive earns £161,000, considerably more than the Prime Minister.
• Over £6,000 spent on village marker stones in 2010.
• More than £300,000 is being paid out on what some would call “non-jobs” including two European Officers, four Diversity Officers and two Climate Change Officers.

Under Labour, the council tax in Barnsley more than doubled, while the Chief Executive of the council enjoyed a pay packet more than that of the Prime Minister’s and spent nearly £2 million on advertising. The Government has provided the funding for every council to freeze council tax for 2011-12.  In these tough times the Labour-led Barnsley Council should help families and pensioners by freezing the council tax.

In James Hockney, we have a dedicated candidate who hasn’t just been parachuted in for the by-election. James knows Barnsley, having campaigned there previously, and has a real understanding of the issues and concerns that affect people here in the area.  James has experience of running his own small business and knows what it takes to get the local economy moving again - I know he will fight for jobs and investment in Barnsley. 

The people of Barnsley have been badly let down by Labour and the previous MP.  Let’s draw a line underneath that and focus on what’s best for Barnsley.  Ed Miliband refuses to accept that Labour overspent before the boom turned to bust. His message to the British people is simple: vote for me, I’d do it all again.

Barnsley deserves better than Labour, so do what you can to help us hold them to account.

Anyone wishing to assist the campaign should email [email protected]. The campaign centre is situated at The Coach House, Berneslai Close (Off Churchfield), Barnsley, S70 2BQ, which is ten minutes from Barnsley railway station and easily accessible from the M1. Should you not be able to make the trip, you can also email to offer to do telephone canvassing from wherever you happen to be.

Have you offered to help James Hockney in Barnsley Central yet?

By Jonathan Isaby

With the Barnsley Central by-election taking place on Thursday March 3rd, South Yorkshire has seen a steady stream of Conservative activists pouring in to help our candidate, James Hockney.

James is pictured above with campaign manager Nigel Adams MP and many of the senior party volunteers who Emma Pidding took to the constituency on Monday, who included three of the National Convention Officers - Jeremy Middleton (Chairman), Fiona Hodgson (President Elect) and Charles Heslop (Vice President) - and seven Regional Chairman, namely Rob Semple (Yorkshire & Humber); Tiz Baskerville (Eastern); Adrian Mitchell (North West); Ian Galletley (North East); Linda Kirk (East Midlands); Gordon Guild (West Midlands); and Caroline Roberts (London).

I will be making the trip to Yorkshire next week to spend a day flying the blue flag in Barnsley and should you wish to assist, please email [email protected]. The campaign centre is situated at The Coach House, Berneslai Close (Off Churchfield), Barnsley, S70 2BQ, which is ten minutes from Barnsley railway station and easily accessible from the M1.

Should you not be able to make the trip, you can also email to offer to do telephone canvassing from wherever you happen to be.

Hope to see you in Barnsley!

Latest campaign leaflets in Barnsley Central focus on Labour's legacy of debt

By Jonathan Isaby

James Hockney was chosen as Conservative candidate for next month's Barnsley Central by-election last Thursday and teams were out in force over the weekend canvassing and delivering. It was only on Saturday that the Lib Dems chose a candidate, in the form of Dominic Carman, son of the late George Carman QC.

Below are the latest leaflets James is putting out. Should you wish to assist his campaign, please email [email protected]. The campaign centre is situated at The Coach House, Berneslai Close (Off Churchfield), Barnsley, S70 2BQ and is a little over half a mile away from Barnsley railway station.

James Hockney to be Conservative candidate at Barnsley Central by-election

By Jonathan Isaby

Yesterday the Labour Chief Whip moved the writ for the Barnsley Central by-election, meaning that it will take place on Thursday March 3rd - the same day as the referendum in Wales on giving more power to the Welsh Assembly.

The former MP for Barnsley Central, Eric Illsley, formally resigned his Commons seat on Tuesday in advance of his sentencing today for his offences relating to his claims for parliamentary expenses.

I revealed last week that Selby and Ainsty's Tory MP Nigel Adams will be managing the Conservative campaign in Barnsley Central and I hope to have news of our candidate very shortly.

> Today's Sun reports that David Cameron has asked ex-Yorkshire cricketer Darren Gough if he would consider being the Conservative candidate.

2pm update:

I can reveal that the Conservative candidate at the by-election will be James Hockney, who contested neighbouring Barnsley East at the general election last year.

The grandson of a coalminer, he is a 32-year-old businessman who is also a Trustee of the children’s charity, the Red Balloon Learner Centre, in South Yorkshire.

He said on his selection:

“It is a real privilege to be standing for Barnsley Central. Having previously campaigned in the seat just next door, I have got a real understanding of the issues and concerns of Barnsley’s residents and local businesses. If elected as the next MP for Barnsley Central I will passionately fight for jobs, investment and a brighter future for the community.”

I am told that the media speculation about Darren Gough being invited to stand as the Tory candidate was rather "blown out of proportion", not least because of his contractual obligations as a radio pundit - but I am reliably told that the former England cricket star will be hitting the campaign trail in support of James.

James will be out campaigning on Saturday and should you wish to assist, please email [email protected].

The new campaign centre is situated at The Coach House, Berneslai Close (Off Churchfield), Barnsley, S70 2BQ and is a little over half a mile away from Barnsley railway station.

Dan Boucher selected to fight Swansea East at the Welsh Assembly election

By Jonathan Isaby

On Thursday night, At the end of last month Swansea East Conservatives selected Dan Boucher as their candidate to fight the Welsh Assembly Election on May 5th.

Dan is a 39-year-old charity worker who has been involved in the voluntary sector in Wales for the past twelve years. He is married to Emma and is a graduate fo Swansea University.

He said on his selection:

"It is a tremendous privilege and responsibility to have been selected to fight for Swansea East at the next election. I very much look forward to the opportunity presented by the election to talk to people about the issues facing our city and nation and to make the case for Welsh Conservative policies.

"The Labour-Plaid Welsh Assembly Government is failing the people of Swansea and the people of Wales through its appalling performance in education. For Wales - a nation with a long-term, proud commitment to education and self-improvement – to be languishing towards the bottom of the PISA League Tables is extraordinary. I’m delighted that the Welsh Conservatives are able to provide the people of Swansea East with a compelling education alternative.

"We must remember the key role played by innovation in informing Swansea’s past economic success and lead the way in Wales, and indeed the UK, in accessing the full economic development opportunities arising out of the potential relationship between our business and university research sectors."

Nigel Adams MP announced as campaign manager in Barnsley Central as further action days take place

By Jonathan Isaby

I can reveal today that Nigel Adams, the Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty, will be campaign manager for the forthcoming Barnsley Central by-election, which will occur once sitting MP Eric Illsley formally quits his Commons seat. Later this month he will be sentenced after his guilty pleas to false accounting relating to his parliamentary expenses.

Nigel's family hails from the Barnsley area and I know he is looking forward to getting stuck in with the challenge of helping put the Conservative case in a constituency which has not always been natural Tory territory.

He tells me:

"We will be fighting this campaign hard as Labour has failed Barnsley and allowed parties with extreme views to prosper. At the general election we were only a handful of votes behind the Lib Dems: there is no pact and we will be fighting for every vote."

A Conservative candidate will shortly be selected, but already the party is working on the ground.

There are further action days taking place today, tomorrow and on Monday February 7th and if you would like to volunteer to help, please email [email protected].

The campaign centre situated at 9a High Street, Penistone, S36 6BR (Tel: 01226 762155). It is situated half a mile from Penistone railway station.