Byelection Result Puts Heat on Bristol MP
South West Watch | 14.01.2011 14:22
So the first proper electoral test of the LibCon coalition has come and gone - leaving a sharply reduced LibDem vote - and questions being asked for those other seats under pressure - including one in Bristol.
The Oldham Byelection that was forced by poor conduct (lying) on behalf of a Labour candidate in his election materials, smearing the LibDem opponent. In a re-run battle with this stain against Labour, and a close run battle, the LibDems should have won this. But then came the coalition and the LibDems cosying up for power to a right-wing party;
Nick Clegg suffered a rebuff early this morning when voters spurned the Liberal Democrats to hand Labour victory in Britain's first parliamentary byelection since the formation of the coalition last May.
In a boost for Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, who has faced whisperings about a lacklustre debut as leader, his party easily held the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat as it increased its 103-vote majority at last year's general election to 3,558.
Debbie Abrahams, the Labour candidate, beat the Liberal Democrat candidate Elwyn Watkins by 14,718 to 11,160. Kashif Ali, the Tory candidate trailed in third place on 4,481 votes. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jan/14/oldham-b...clegg
Now Bristol LibDem MP Stephen Williams is one of those under threat of a campaign by students to oust him over anger of his vacillation over student fees (something he'd been clear on when wanting people's votes...). In the last election Stephen won by 48.1% to 2nd place Paul Smith (Labour) with 27.5%. The Oldham result saw a swing of 10% to Labour. A similar swing of 10% from LibDems to Labour here would make this a close race of 38.1% vs 37.5%. The heat is on Williams!
And that is not all...What we might have seen in Oldham is Tory voters switching to LibDems to prop the ailing party up. This means LibDem support is getting hollowed out at the grass-roots. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2011/jan/14/pol...ction
PS. How did the fascist BNP do? Happily very badly. In an area they once considered a stronghold, they were reduced to 4.4% and lost their deposit. http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2011/01/this-time-bnp-....html
The Oldham Byelection that was forced by poor conduct (lying) on behalf of a Labour candidate in his election materials, smearing the LibDem opponent. In a re-run battle with this stain against Labour, and a close run battle, the LibDems should have won this. But then came the coalition and the LibDems cosying up for power to a right-wing party;
Nick Clegg suffered a rebuff early this morning when voters spurned the Liberal Democrats to hand Labour victory in Britain's first parliamentary byelection since the formation of the coalition last May.
In a boost for Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, who has faced whisperings about a lacklustre debut as leader, his party easily held the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat as it increased its 103-vote majority at last year's general election to 3,558.
Debbie Abrahams, the Labour candidate, beat the Liberal Democrat candidate Elwyn Watkins by 14,718 to 11,160. Kashif Ali, the Tory candidate trailed in third place on 4,481 votes. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jan/14/oldham-b...clegg
Now Bristol LibDem MP Stephen Williams is one of those under threat of a campaign by students to oust him over anger of his vacillation over student fees (something he'd been clear on when wanting people's votes...). In the last election Stephen won by 48.1% to 2nd place Paul Smith (Labour) with 27.5%. The Oldham result saw a swing of 10% to Labour. A similar swing of 10% from LibDems to Labour here would make this a close race of 38.1% vs 37.5%. The heat is on Williams!
And that is not all...What we might have seen in Oldham is Tory voters switching to LibDems to prop the ailing party up. This means LibDem support is getting hollowed out at the grass-roots. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2011/jan/14/pol...ction
PS. How did the fascist BNP do? Happily very badly. In an area they once considered a stronghold, they were reduced to 4.4% and lost their deposit. http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2011/01/this-time-bnp-....html
South West Watch
Original article on IMC Bristol:
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/702847