The battle for Winchester

Winchester has a Conservative council with a third of the seats up for election on May 6. Under the Conservatives the Council Tax has been kept down and there have been successful projects including a park and ride scheme and repaving the High Street. Under the Lib Dems £350,000 was lost on a bankrupt charity.

In terms of the General Election some of the wards come under the new seat of Meon Valley which would already be notionally Conservative on the basis of the 2005 General Election results. So more attention will focus on Winchester our 142nd target seat. Of the relevant 15 wards in Winchester 10 wen to the Lib Dems and five to us when last contested. This suggests a tough fight. On the other hand the sitting Lib Dem MP Mark Oaten is standing down after telling lies about his private life - so there will be no incumbency factor.

Good luck to the Conservative candidate Steve Brine who is a strong local candidate. This will be a tough fight both for him and our council candidates.