ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog

Diary of a PPC: Hornsey and Wood Green's Richard Merrin begins working with Haringey's first Conservative councillor for seven years

Each week a different PPC provides us with an insight into life as a candidate and gives us a flavour of their own campaign and interests. If you are a candidate and are keen to be featured, please email Jonathan Isaby.

This week’s diary is written by Richard Merrin, the recently selected candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green. It was a Conservative seat until 1992, when it was won by Labour, but it was gained by the Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone in 2005.

Monday 20th July
Whoever said that the summer months meant that there would somehow be a slow down in work was clearly not living on the same planet as the majority of us.

Yes, business is busy, which for a small businessman like myself is critical especially given the state of the economy. But as I prepare for the week there are two overriding political issues. At a national level this is the week of the by-election in Norwich North, at the local level it is the first full Council meeting in Haringey with a Conservative councillor after an absence of seven years.

I spend the morning at work, however by lunchtime it is clear that the rest of the day needs to focus on how we work with our new councillor – the former Mayor of Haringey who has only just defected to the Conservatives – and what should our tactics be at the Civic Centre tonight. Emails, calls and meetings dominate. I know that my role here is to build up the Conservative presence and this defection has delivered just that but it needs nurturing, building on and growing.

Richard Merrin selected for Hornsey and Wood Green

Richard Merrin was last night selected to stand in the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency at the next general election.

The managing director of a London-based public relations agency, Richard was recently a finalist in the Holborn and St Pancras selection and has a long record of campaigning in Camden.

He said on his selection:

“I am absolutely delighted to have been selected by the members of the Hornsey and Wood Green Conservative Association, an area of London my family live and I know so well. Labour-run Haringey Council is officially the worst in London and one of the bottom four in the UK. The people of Hornsey and Wood Green have been hit by a double whammy – an inept council and a sub-prime government well past its sell-by date.  With the European Elections heading toward us I am looking forward to being part of a great team determined to make in-roads into the Lib Dem vote.”

Despite being Tory held (by Sir Hugh Rossi) until 1992, the Conservative vote here has dropped at every election ever since, generally accounted for by significant demographic changes. The seat was held for Labour between 1992 and 2005 by Barbara Roche, but in 2005 it was gained by Lib Dem Lynne Featherstone, who will defend a majority of 2,395 over Labour. The Tories start in third place on 12.7%.

Jonathan Isaby