By-Election Results
They’re not good news.
Ealing Southall:Virendra Sharma (Lab) 15,188 (41.48%, -7.28%)
Nigel Bakhai (LD) 10,118 (27.63%, +3.19%)
Tony Lit (C) 8,230 (22.48%, +0.91%)Sedgefield:
Phil Wilson (Lab) 12,528 (44.77%, -14.11%)
Greg Stone (LD) 5,572 (19.91%, +8.02%)
Graham Robb (C) 4,082 (14.59%, +0.19%)
It seems that the gamble on Tony Lit, and the repeated visits of David Cameron to Ealing did not work. It was pretty much an abysmal failure. At this stage in a Parliament, the Conservatives should be doing far far better in by-elections than a less than 1% increase in vote. As Tim Montgomerie at ConservativeHome says:
“Today the only silver lining of the Ealing result is that LibDem MPs have not got a ready excuse to oust Menzies Campbell.”
When that is the best thing that can be said about the results, it’s not good at all.
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As long as Cameron is leader, the Tories are on a hiding to nothing. Dump him now.
I disagree completely. Who else could do it? There has been too much leader-swapping as it is in the recent past. Cameron can win, and will if given the chance.
It was a devastating result for Conservatives. Tony Lit was not an inspired choice, bearing in mind how he only joined the Cons Party shortly before his nomination and gave money to Labour too.
Chris, just look at his performance so far. Run a checklist. You say who could do it if not him? Are you saying there’s no talent in the party or anyone of stature?
The problem is in his preselection by the same powers promoting Gordon and then, in a more orthodox arena, by the branch and national preselection process which cuts out talent.
He doesn’t convince the electorate because he shifts position so often - top Tory leaders have always known what they were about and were able to communicate it to the people.
He can’t. Nice enough chap but he’s not going to win anything.
You didn’t write of loyalty but it’s implicit in your comment. That’s why the move should be made NOW. Not in two weeks or two months or prior to the election.
Now. So the Tories will have half a chance and so ALL Tories can get behind their leader with confidence.