General Election Opening Announcements

Conservative and Lib Dem parties have been quick to react to Gordon Brown’s announcement that the general election will be on May 7.

Conservative Association Chairman Russell Tillson has posted a lengthy article on the Shepway Conservative's website, running to over 1,100 words.

Cllr Tillson urges members to ‘do everything in our power to evict this decomposing muck heap of a government and its failed prime minister’ and asks members to 'dig deep' to ensure Conservative Candidate Damain Collins wins the seat.

Towards the end of the article the Lib Dems are described as ‘the bindweed of politics – once they are allowed to invade territory, they are very hard to displace until people finally realise that empty cans make the most noise.’

The article also shows the Conservatives’ greatest worry - the danger of UKIP splitting the Conservative vote, as happened when Shepway District Leader Conservative Robert Bliss lost his Kent County Council seat to Lib Dem Tim Prater.

Shepway Liberal Democrats have posted a smaller press release, stating ‘Lib Dem Lynne Beaumont is predicted to be the only serious challenger to the Conservatives ... with bookmakers Ladbrokes rating both UKIP and Labour as 100-1 rank outsiders.’

As of April 6, Ladbrokes rate Ms Beaumont as 14/1 with Mr Collins the clear favourite at 1/100.

Ms Beaumont says ‘I've already pledged to be a full time MP for our area with no other paid job, and to accept no second homes expenses if elected: an MP can and should commute from here to Westminster.’

The Liberal Democrats are making the most of Ms Beaumont’s ‘local’ credentials over rival Mr Collins, who previously stood in Northampton North. Ms Beaumont has attacked Mr Collins for being a ‘wannabe MP’. Mr Collins has become involved in local issues and has told FUTS he believes an increase in the Conservative share of the vote is possible.

Funding appears to be a concern for both parties, with appeals made in Cllr Tillson’s article and by several prominent Lib Dems on Twitter. Labour, a distant third, appear to be in turmoil with not enough local members supporting candidate Donald Worsley's attempts to canvass and campaign.

It is unlikely the Conservative majority of over 11,000 votes will be overturned, but with the scandals of recent times reverberating around Westminster neither candidate is taking anything for granted.