Cameron and Osborne to lead Tory final push in Norwich North
James Forsyth 3:22pm
The Tories are clearly sensing victory in Norwich North, David Cameron and George Osborne will both travel up there and be canvassing tomorrow morning from 5.30am. The Tories think that a victory would send them into the summer with the momentum and show that they are the party in poll position after the whole expenses business. Certainly, a win—and we’ll know if they have done this by around noon on Friday—would get the Tories some positive press coverage. But I suspect that a Labour defeat / Tory victory is already priced in politically.
The story to watch might actually be the performance of the Lib Dems. The word from Norwich is that they are really struggling and could be pushed hard for third by the Greens. Coming fourth in a by-election, traditionally a Lib Dem strength, would hardly be the start to the summer that Nick Clegg would want.
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John Moss
July 22nd, 2009 3:33pm Report this commentLib-Dem leader just dumped free elderly care, free university places and some other long-standing Lib-Dem pledge to spend our money.
Hardly good timing on the eve of a by-election.
cuffleyburgers
July 22nd, 2009 3:38pm Report this commentI think Clegg deserves better.
He has done a lot to rid the party of their insane fringe since the scots idiot left whatever his name was, and frequently has made points that I wish Cameron would have made, also in a more attractive way for the public.
TGF UKIP
July 22nd, 2009 4:11pm Report this commentThe political hack from the local press was opining when interviewed last week that for a Tory win to be convincing, bearing in mind all the peculiar circumstances, they would need a majority at the level of the existing Labour one - 5,000. Seemed a reasonable thesis to me.
Bearing in mind the Mekon/Dave obsession, though, wouldn't it be a hoot if the Greens stole loads of votes from them.
Alfred T Mahan
July 22nd, 2009 4:18pm Report this commentHow many voters do they think they'll win, canvassing at 5.30am? And how many will they lose?
Vulture
July 22nd, 2009 4:22pm Report this commentYou assume that Liebour will be second then? Ain't necessarily so.
Tiberius
July 22nd, 2009 4:37pm Report this comment"Pole" position, James?
If the Tory activists are as energetic as they were in Crewe & Nantwich, a Tory win should follow.
Super Blue
July 22nd, 2009 4:47pm Report this commentCameron and Osborne will be there to boost the Conservative vote. Brown and Darling won't be there - to avoid boosting the Conservative vote
Alan Douglas
July 22nd, 2009 5:10pm Report this comment"poll position" ? Very good !
Perhape pole position too ?
Alan Douglas
Sheila
July 22nd, 2009 5:33pm Report this commentThe Limp Dims are New Labour Lite in the minds of most people.
Who gives a damn?
James J
July 22nd, 2009 5:37pm Report this commentThe interesting factor will be whether the BNP vote eats into the traditional Labour core vote. This is what would guarantee a Conservative government and the end of Labour as a potential future government.
tenpin
July 22nd, 2009 6:06pm Report this commentWait for the Labour landslide via the postal voting system. I suspect the Norwich North population will expand considerably (and there may be an enquiry followed by the a large can of whitewash) - Glenroathes anyone?
Brown going on about democracy with the number of unelected freeloaders he has in his government and a PM no one voted for and the fact that no one challenges him on this make me sick.
When/if the GE is called (I see the financial crisis, H1N1 etc hasn't postphoned the MP's holiday - but may postphone the GE) and if Labour get in I am out of here (I refuse to live with stupid people).
Augustus
July 22nd, 2009 6:25pm Report this commentSuper Blue- When Brown talks about investment he invariably means waste. No, Brown and Darling won't be there, but Cameron and Osborne will. Call it the difference between investment and waste.
Verity
July 22nd, 2009 6:29pm Report this commentNow that he's fluent in hand gestures, Cameron can mime his speeches.
George Laird
July 22nd, 2009 7:54pm Report this commentDera All
I am hoping that the Tory hack Ms. Smith exposed on Craig Murray's Put an honest man in parliament website and in the Times gets gubbed.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Chris Davison
July 23rd, 2009 8:33am Report this commentHowever bad the Conservatives may be, rest assured that Lab, Lib-Dem, Green etc. will ALL COST YOU MORE of whatever money you manage to earn.
I prefer to keep as much of my money to spend as I see fit, NOT as som apparatchik thinks that I ought to
De Rigueur
July 23rd, 2009 11:42am Report this commentShame about the candidate though.
Norwich deserve better than a 26 year old who may be bright and fresh faced, and not contaminated by Westminster, but why can't the Tories find someone who has real experience of life outside politics. There is no substitute for it.
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