Election Talk

The above image is reproduced from Conservative Home who themselves were commenting on a poll for The Sunday Times.

It seems things are getting worse for Labour and the Lib-Dems are just treading water. However I would not write off Labour's chances in Southampton. They have outperformed their party nationally in Southampton consistently over the last 10 years and despite the 2004 elections being good for the Tories nationally,which was when these seats were last contested, as the results show, Labour piled up its majorities in parts of the city.

The Conservatives need to hold every seat they have got and win 6 more to be in office for a year (as they will hold the Mayor's casting vote) and 7 seats for the coming two years (when they will not). That is a big ask- personally I don't think we will do it.

That said, times are a changing. The Lib-Lab pact is far from universally popular, the Tories have some good, vote winning policies such as the pensioner discount and recruitment of more Special Constables while pegging council tax at inflation. Labour and the Lib-Dems seem determined to go out of their way to upset people with schemes like the weekly alternate bin collection and plans to introduce parking charges for residents.

It is all to play for and of course now with the Lib-lab pact, the only alternative if you want a change of administration is to vote Conservative!