Eyes of the nation on Warwick and Leamington seat - The Leamington Observer

Eyes of the nation on Warwick and Leamington seat

Leamington Editorial 23rd Apr, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

POLITICAL commentators are looking to the Warwick and Leamington seat as an indicator of who could win the General Election.

With the outcome of the election as unpredictable as ever with only two weeks to go to polling day, the seat has been highlighted as the key marginal in the country as to how the nation may vote.

Professor of Politics John Curtice, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, said: “No other constituency better reflects the state of the battle between Conservative and Labour than this seat in the heart of England.

“The Conservatives captured it in 2010 with a lead of 7.2 points over Labour, which matched almost perfectly the 7.3 point lead the Tories held across the country.




“So there is a good chance that whoever wins here will come first in votes nationally.”

Conservative candidate Chris White is campaigning to hold onto the seat he has held for the past five years after securing a 3,500 majority in 2010.


He told The Observer: “Warwick and Leamington is a very important place and the article highlights this. It is important geographically, being in the centre of the country, but also demographically, and with both rural and urban areas, in that sense it reflects the country as a whole.

“People are very interested in what is going to happen and my campaigning has been relentlessly positive. It is very important to get the message across of what we have achieved over the past five years as we have a very positive story to tell.

“I’ve been delivering leaflets and knocking on doors, but I’m the first to say there’s more to do.”

Labour candidate Lynnette Kelly is looking to win back the seat the party held for 13 years until James Plaskitt’s defeat by Mr White.

Mrs Kelly said: “It is going to be close. It’s not going to be a huge majority, but I think we’re going to win the seat.

“We are getting a good reception on doorsteps. People disillusioned with Labour in 2010 are telling us they are coming back to us. People disillusioned with the Coalition, and even some who voted Conservative last time, are telling us they are going to vote Labour.

“We are out every day talking to people, and that will continue up to five to ten on election day night.”

The Warwick and Leamington seat was traditionally Tory – former prime minister Anthony Eden held it for 30 years – until Labour won it for the first time in 1997.

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