The Liberal Democrats secured a historic by-election win in Chesham and Amersham this morning, overturning a majority of more than 16,000 to snatch the previously safe Tory seat.
Liberal Democrat Sarah Green won with a majority of 8,028 over Conservative David Fleet, gaining 21,517 votes - nearly 57% of the total - to his 13,489, 35.5%, on a turnout of just over 52%.Ouch!
A Tory source told the Press Association: 'By-elections are always difficult for the governing party, particularly 11 years into government, but there is no getting away from the fact this is a very disappointing result.
'The work of regaining the support of the people of Chesham and Amersham starts now.'
Given it's a safe Conservative seat that's never been lost, why have they lost faith?
Lib Dem activists on the ground had insisted the race for the seat looked “neck and neck”, with former Tory voters on the doorsteps complaining they felt neglected by the governing party.
The Lib Dems said the government’s proposed planning reforms had also featured heavily in the campaign.
Boris should really have looked across at the opposite benches and thought: "That could happen to me..."
6 comments:
Crapping on your own supporters is never a wise strategy. A two or three decades ago our long serving and well respected Conservative MP was killed when his house burned down. Central Office parachuted 'their' candidate into the by election (a well qualified Local Politician, but from some distance away) despite local pleas for a local candidate. The seat went to the LibDems who held it for a couple of General Elections.
HS2!
Compulsory electric cars for all! If that was a vote winner they wouldn't need to push, people would be buying them anyway.
I see a few issues in play. . . . . .
HS2 is a biggie there (The Lib-Dem Party supports it but their candidate apparently doesn't).
Potential easing of planning rules riles the Nibmys.
It was a heavily 'Remain' constituency.
The Tory focus is on rewarding northern 'Red Wall' seats, their southern heartlands don't like that.
Wonder how Batley & Spen will play out?
Can't fault Mudpluggers assessment. The Conservatives would lose any by-election with those issues. If, by some miracle, the Labour Party starts to look like any kind of threat, the seat will go back to the Tories at the next General Election. If Labour remain as shit as they are, it won't matter anyway as the Conservative majority wll be returned by the North.
"Crapping on your own supporters is never a wise strategy. "
And they have a prime example staring them in the face every day on the opposite benches!
"HS2!"
Yup!
"Compulsory electric cars for all! If that was a vote winner they wouldn't need to push, people would be buying them anyway."
Spot on!
"Wonder how Batley & Spen will play out?"
Not well for anyone but chancers and hypocrites.
"If, by some miracle, the Labour Party starts to look like any kind of threat, the seat will go back to the Tories at the next General Election."
Maybe. Maybe not.
Post a Comment