DOCSLIB.ORG

General Election Key Seat Guide the Midlands & EAST of ENGLAND

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
General Election Key Seat Guide the Midlands & EAST of ENGLAND 22 November 2019 General election key seat guide The Midlands & EAST OF ENGLAND his is the second in a series of Headland’s Key Seat 2019 General Election Guides. This election will be a complex race with the two main parties under challenge from T smaller parties and Brexit. Based on an assessment of election history, demographics and an in-depth knowledge of local areas, we will lay out which seats are going to be the most interesting and tightly fought during this election. Part two of the series moves to the Midlands and East of England – looking at the East Midlands, West Midlands and East of England regions. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • This diverse area stretches from the Welsh border to the North Sea and encompasses some of the most tightly fought seats in the country. • The Conservatives will be looking to shake up the electoral map by winning in seats Labour have held for over a century in the Black Country and the mining towns of the East Midlands. • Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats will be wanting to make waves of their own by taking classic commuter belt seats in the home counties off the Conservatives. Headland briefing | general election key seat guide – the midlands & EAST OF ENGLAND | 1 THE WEST MIDLANDS The home of some of the most marginal constituencies in the country and often thought of as where elections are won and lost, the seats in play this time round are a mixture of skilled working class swing seat areas in the Black Country such as Dudley and Telford, Labour heartlands in the pottery towns of Staffordshire and liberal centres like Warwick. DUDLEY NORTH Incumbent: Ian Austin (Independent, elected Labour) Majority: 22 One of the most marginal seats in the country, Labour has been clinging on to this Black Country town for years. Once the heart of the Midlands metal industry, Dudley has long been seen a centre of ‘old-right’ Labour voters – pro- trade union but also pro-business and culturally opposed to the more leftist politics of Jeremy Corbyn. It is also a strong Leave-voting area. Its MP until earlier this year was former Gordon Brown advisor Ian Austin, who quit the party over Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of anti-Semitism and his views on international affairs and national security. He has since stood down, saying Labour voters should back the Conservatives. What was already a super- marginal seat now looks almost certain to turn blue. Headland prediction: CONSERVATIVE GAIN NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME Incumbent: Paul Farrelly (Labour) Majority: 30 Famous as part of the UK’s ceramics industry, Newcastle-under-Lyme has been a Labour seat for 100 years – indeed, its first Labour MP Josiah Wedgwood was from the renowned porcelain family. However, unlike other industrial heartlands that Labour has held for decades, this has been a marginal seat for a long time, with majorities fluctuating between 1,000 and 12,000 in the 60s alone. The seat is made even more interesting by the Keele University campus; Labour votes from which are increasingly off-setting Conservative support emerging in the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme. However, this seat has a 61% Leave vote and looks almost certain to flip. Headland prediction: CONSERVATIVE GAIN STOKE-ON-TRENT SOUTH Incumbent: Jack Brereton (Conservative) Majority: 663 This was a rare Conservative gain from Labour in 2017, finally capitalising on a decade-long trend towards them. Stoke-on-Trent South would ordinarily be a top Labour target in an election. However, a further abandonment of their former working class base caused by Brexit (the constituency voted 71% Leave) and a dislike of Corbyn means Labour’s chances of winning this seat are further away now than they were in 2017. Headland prediction: CONSERVATIVE HOLD Headland briefing | general election key seat guide – the midlands & EAST OF ENGLAND | 2 TELFORD Incumbent: Lucy Allan (Conservative) Majority: 730 This Shropshire constituency has been a bellwether seat since the Second World War with governments by and large needing the town to win a majority. Therefore, unlike many seats in this election, national polling will be a good indicator to what is likely to happen. A popular Conservative Party nationally, along with an MP who is pro-Brexit and has performed well locally around a case of child grooming, means the Conservatives are likely to keep hold of this seat. Headland prediction: CONSERVATIVE HOLD WARWICK & LEAMINGTON Incumbent: Matt Western (Labour) Majority: 1,206 Warwick & Leamington was a safe Conservative seat until 1997, having held the constituency for over a decade. However, two key factors have been at play since then. First, the seat has become more liberal-leaning with young families and professionals moving in – exemplified by being a heavily Remain-voting seat in a sea of Leave votes. It has also had a significant increase in the number of students who, as a demographic, have become more left-wing. These two shifts have continued since Labour regained the seat in 2017 and this will likely have a big impact on the vote. Headland prediction: LABOUR HOLD EAST OF ENGLAND The forgotten region, this largely rural part of England has traditionally been a blue fortress with pockets of red around the big towns. This time round it will be those pockets that the Conservatives will be targeting, but they will be on the defensive in the London commuter towns of St Albans and Watford to try and stave off a sustained Liberal Democrat assault. IPSWICH Incumbent: Sandy Martin (Labour) Majority: 836 A surprise win for Labour in 2017, Ipswich was considered a seat outside Labour’s scope. This constituency lacks many of the key factors common among Labour seats – no significant BAME vote, no large university and no majority for Remain. A well-run campaign with a recognised candidate who had been active locally for years meant Labour was able to perform significantly better than expected. However, Labour also hugely benefited from the collapse in the UKIP vote switching in big numbers to them. With a resurgent Brexit Party, this may be one of the rarities – a Labour seat where the Conservatives benefit from Brexit splitting the Labour vote. Headland prediction: CONSERVATIVE GAIN Headland briefing | general election key seat guide – the midlands & EAST OF ENGLAND | 3 PETERBOROUGH Incumbent: Lisa Forbes (Labour) Majority: 683 Home to one of the most high-profile by-elections in recent times, Peterborough will again be the destination of a big election struggle. The by-election, fought when Theresa May was still Prime Minister following the conviction of the then Labour MP for perverting the course of justice, turned this once two-way marginal into a three-way fight between Labour, the Conservatives and the Brexit Party. Labour retaining the seat came as a shock to many and was attributed to May losing votes to the Brexit Party. The Conservatives will be hoping that their renewed pro-Brexit stance will help them win over Brexit Party supporters and get them over the line. On the other side, Labour will be hoping that the alliance of Remain voters they managed to command in 2017 will stave off the Conservative challenge. Headland prediction: CONSERVATIVE GAIN CAMBRIDGE Incumbent: Daniel Zeichner (Labour) Majority: 12,661 With a majority of more than 12,000, this seat does not look on paper as if it should be considered marginal. However, the constituency, which unsurprisingly has a huge number of students and liberal professionals, voted overwhelmingly to Remain and has a history of big swings between Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The resurgent Liberal Democrats will be hoping that Corbyn’s declining popularity and their strident position on Brexit will be enough to reverse this huge majority. However, the incumbent Labour MP Daniel Zeichner has been outspoken in his opposition to Brexit, and any overturn would require a huge swing. Labour will be in a real fight here but are likely to just about hang on. Headland prediction: LABOUR HOLD WATFORD Incumbent: Richard Harrington (Conservative) Majority: 2,092 Watford has been a three-way marginal since 2005. During that time, the Liberal Democrats have built a strong and loyal support base, winning the ‘Mayor of Watford’ election every year since 2002. The incumbent Conservative MP Richard Harrington is due to stand down and the Green Party has announced they won’t stand. This makes this Remain- supporting commuter town an interesting contest, with a sign of potentially huge change for the Conservative base. Headland prediction: LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN Headland briefing | general election key seat guide – the midlands & EAST OF ENGLAND | 4 ST ALBANS Incumbent: Anne Main (Conservative) Majority: 6,109 Much has been spoken about a shift in electoral battlegrounds in the North and Midlands – with Labour seats moving towards the Conservatives. However, St Albans will signal whether the South is moving away from the Conservatives. This affluent, leafy market-turned-commuter town is a classic Conservative seat. However, the people of St Albans voting to remain in the EU (62% vs. 37%) coupled with a Brexiteer incumbent MP is going to make this a fascinating battle. The Conservatives will be grateful for the Brexit Party not standing here but, with the Liberal Democrats coming second last time, the Conservatives will have a big fight on their hands. Headland prediction: LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN EAST MIDLANDS Home to some of Labour’s most famous faces and safe seats in both urban areas like Leicester (home to Keith Vaz) and former mining towns like Bolsover (the seat of Labour stalwart Dennis Skinner), the Conservatives need to make real inroads in the East Midlands to get their majority. Some of the most interesting and newsworthy battles will take place here, perhaps making it the most important region in the country.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Father of the House Sarah Priddy
    BRIEFING PAPER Number 06399, 17 December 2019 By Richard Kelly Father of the House Sarah Priddy Inside: 1. Seniority of Members 2. History www.parliament.uk/commons-library | intranet.parliament.uk/commons-library | [email protected] | @commonslibrary Number 06399, 17 December 2019 2 Contents Summary 3 1. Seniority of Members 4 1.1 Determining seniority 4 Examples 4 1.2 Duties of the Father of the House 5 1.3 Baby of the House 5 2. History 6 2.1 Origin of the term 6 2.2 Early usage 6 2.3 Fathers of the House 7 2.4 Previous qualifications 7 2.5 Possible elections for Father of the House 8 Appendix: Fathers of the House, since 1901 9 3 Father of the House Summary The Father of the House is a title that is by tradition bestowed on the senior Member of the House, which is nowadays held to be the Member who has the longest unbroken service in the Commons. The Father of the House in the current (2019) Parliament is Sir Peter Bottomley, who was first elected to the House in a by-election in 1975. Under Standing Order No 1, as long as the Father of the House is not a Minister, he takes the Chair when the House elects a Speaker. He has no other formal duties. There is evidence of the title having been used in the 18th century. However, the origin of the term is not clear and it is likely that different qualifications were used in the past. The Father of the House is not necessarily the oldest Member.
    [Show full text]
  • Brexit Update
    # Swyddfa UE | EU Office Brexit update Pwyllgor Materion Allanol a Deddfwriaeth Ycwhanegol | 11 Gorffennaf 2016 External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee | 11 July 2016 Research Briefing: 1. Introduction This paper provides Members with an update on the latest relevant developments for the Assembly following the vote to leave the EU on 23 June. Members should also refer to the Research Paper on the implications of the leave vote to Wales, published on 24 June. 2. Developments in Wales 2.1 Welsh Government The First Minister published a statement on 24 June on the referendum outcome, which identified six priorities for Wales: . Protecting jobs; . Full part to be played by the Welsh Government in discussions about the timing and terms of the UK withdrawal; . UK Government should negotiate access to the Single Market; . Continued participation in major programmes like CAP and Structural Funds up until end of 2020; . Overwhelming case for major revision of Barnett Formula to take into account needs arising from withdrawal from EU; 1 . Constitutional shift resulting from Brexit means ‘the relationship between Devolved Administrations and the UK Government must now be placed onto an entirely different footing’. The First Minister has also made a number of oral statements during plenary since then. On Briefing Page | 28 June, speaking about EU funding, in response to the Leader of the Opposition Leanne Wood AM, he said: I wrote to the Prime Minister yesterday. I asked him to guarantee every penny that we would lose, to make sure that came to Wales. If that pledge is honoured, then we can proceed with the metro and Briff Tudalen Gregg Jones, x7972 or 0032 466315750, [email protected] RS Ref: 16/550/1 other projects.
    [Show full text]
  • Labour: a Better Future for Women
    A BETTER FUTURE FOR WOMEN A BETTER FUTURE FOR WOMEN FOREWORD Labour Party values start from the belief that who you are or where you come from should never hold you back from achieving your potential. We have made great strides in improving equality for women, from the right to vote to the right to equal pay, and Labour has consistently lead this progress. Under the last Labour Government, the gender pay gap closed by almost a third, we opened 3,000 Sure Start Centres, extended maternity leave and introduced paternity leave, and transformed the way that police, prosecutors and courts dealt with cases of domestic violence. But progress for women has never been achieved by sitting back. In the last five years progress to close the gender pay gap has slowed. More women are low paid and on zero-hours contracts. Many families feel that they have never been so stretched. Instead of taking action the Tories have chosen to hit women harder, with women bearing 85 per cent of the impact of tax and benefit changes. Violence against women and girls is a national scandal. Rapes and incidents of domestic violence reported to the police have gone up, but the number of cases prosecuted and convicted has fallen. And there is still much further to go to change a culture that permits everyday sexism. Labour has a better plan for equality for men and women from the shop floor to the boardroom. We’ll do more to help women and men balance families and work through more free childcare.
    [Show full text]
  • 2016 a Personal View
    Amnesty International Cambridge City Group May 2016 - April 2017 Cambridge Cambridge is an extraordinary city. It is immensely rich - intellectually, historically, culturally, financially. The University of Cambridge has nurtured more Nobel Prize winners than any other institution. Its thriving high tech industries produce the most patent applications in the country. It comes only second in the tables for pupils achieving good GCSE results in maths and English. It has a high population of young people, very few of whom claim benefits. The average weekly income is near the top nationally, as are house prices. As are house prices. Cambridge is the most unequal city in the country. Listed third for house unaffordability, a rise of 122% in homelessness over 2015, five food banks in the city centre, lowest per capita welfare spending, with 30% of children living in poverty in three of the city wards : the difference between those who have and those who have not is stark. This is the environment in which the Amnesty International Cambridge City Group works, a vibrant exciting place to be with problems common to the rest of the country. Cambridge was an early participant in the Amnesty movement. The group, the eighteenth still active in the country, was established in February 1969, a year of great social upheaval in Europe. The relationship between those in power and those who felt unrepresented was put to the test, sometimes violently. In 2016 that relationship was tested on the world stage. The Amnesty International Report 2016-17 says : ‘For millions, 2016 was a year of unrelenting misery and fear, as governments and armed groups abused human rights in a multitude of ways.’ With growing suppression comes growing resistance, an awareness that inaction is not an option.
    [Show full text]
  • Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill
    PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT GENERAL COMMITTEES Public Bill Committee ADVANCED RESEARCH AND INVENTION AGENCY BILL Sixth Sitting Thursday 22 April 2021 (Afternoon) CONTENTS SCHEDULE 3 agreed to. CLAUSES 10 TO 15 agreed to. New clauses considered. Bill to be reported, without amendment. PBC (Bill 264) 2019 - 2021 No proofs can be supplied. Corrections that Members suggest for the final version of the report should be clearly marked in a copy of the report—not telephoned—and must be received in the Editor’s Room, House of Commons, not later than Monday 26 April 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 183 Public Bill Committee22 APRIL 2021 Advanced Research and Invention 184 Agency Bill The Committee consisted of the following Members: Chairs: JUDITH CUMMINS, †MR PHILIP HOLLOBONE,ESTHER MCVEY,DEREK TWIGG † Baker, Duncan (North Norfolk) (Con) † Onwurah, Chi (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab) † Bell, Aaron (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Con) Owen, Sarah (Luton North) (Lab) † Blackman, Kirsty (Aberdeen North) (SNP) † Richardson, Angela (Guildford) (Con) Butler, Dawn (Brent Central) (Lab) † Solloway, Amanda (Parliamentary Under-Secretary † Crosbie, Virginia (Ynys Môn) (Con) of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) † Fletcher, Mark (Bolsover) (Con) † Tomlinson, Michael (Lord Commissioner of Her † Flynn, Stephen (Aberdeen South) (SNP) Majesty’s Treasury) † Furniss, Gill (Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough) † Zeichner, Daniel (Cambridge) (Lab) (Lab) Hunt, Jane (Loughborough) (Con) Sarah Ioannou, Seb Newman, Committee Clerks † Mayhew, Jerome (Broadland) (Con) † Metcalfe, Stephen (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con) † attended the Committee 185 Public Bill CommitteeHOUSE OF COMMONS Advanced Research and Invention 186 Agency Bill information requests in 2020 and has answered 100 in Public Bill Committee the first three months of 2021.
    [Show full text]
  • The IR35 MP Hit List ­ the 100 Politicians Most Likely to Lose Their Seats
    The UK's leading contractor site. 200,000 monthly unique visitors. GUIDES IR35 CALCULATORS BUSINESS INSURANCE BANKING ACCOUNTANTS INSURANCE MORTGAGES PENSIONS RESOURCES FREE IR35 TEST The IR35 MP hit list ­ The 100 politicians most likely to lose their seats Last December research conducted by ContractorCalculator identified the MPs for whom it will prove most costly to lose the self­employed vote, and published the top 20 from each party. The results were based on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and contractor sentiment indicated by a previous ContractorCalculator survey. The full results of this research are now published, with the top 100 MPs, ordered by risk of losing their seat, due to the Off­payroll (IR35) reforms that Treasury, HMRC and the Chancellor are attempting to push through Parliament. In total, 85 MPs hold a majority in Parliament that would feasibly be overturned if the expected turnout of IR35­opposing self­employed voters from their constituency were to vote against them, and we list the next 15, making 100 in total, that are potentially under threat if the self­ employed voter turnout is higher than expected. "This single piece of damaging policy could prove catastrophic for all parties involved, not least the Tories, who make up 43% of the at­risk seats,” comments ContractorCalculator CEO, Dave Chaplin. “There is also potentially a lot to gain for some, but those in precarious positions will have to act swiftly and earnestly to win over contractors’ trust.” How we identified the at­risk MPs The research leveraged the data and compared the MPs majority at the last election with the likely number of self­employed voters in their area who would turn out and vote against them.
    [Show full text]
  • Generational Divide Will Split Cult of Corbyn the Internal Contradictions Between the Youthful Idealists and Cynical Old Trots Are Becoming Increasingly Exposed
    The Times, 26th September 2017: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/generational-divide- will-split-cult-of-corbyn-c0sbn70mv Generational divide will split cult of Corbyn The internal contradictions between the youthful idealists and cynical old Trots are becoming increasingly exposed Rachael Sylvester A graffiti artist is spray-painting a wall when I arrive at The World Transformed festival, organised by Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters in Momentum. Inside, clay-modelling is under way in a creative workshop that is exploring “the symbiotic relationship between making and thinking”. A “collaborative quilt” hangs in the “creative chaos corner” next to a specially commissioned artwork celebrating the NHS. The young, mainly female volunteers who are staffing the event talk enthusiastically about doing politics in a different way and creating spaces where people can come together to discuss new ideas. It is impossible to ignore the slightly cult-like atmosphere: one member of the audience is wearing a T-shirt printed with the slogan “Corbyn til I die”. But this four-day festival running alongside the official Labour Party conference in Brighton has far more energy and optimism than most political events. There have been two late-night raves, sessions on “acid Corbynism”, and a hackathon, seeking to harness the power of the geeks to solve technological problems. With its own app, pinging real-time updates to followers throughout the day, and a glossy pastel-coloured brochure, the Momentum festival has an upbeat, modern feel. As well as sunny optimism there is a darker, bullying side Then I go to a packed session on “Radical Democracy and Twenty- First Century Socialism”.
    [Show full text]
  • THE 422 Mps WHO BACKED the MOTION Conservative 1. Bim
    THE 422 MPs WHO BACKED THE MOTION Conservative 1. Bim Afolami 2. Peter Aldous 3. Edward Argar 4. Victoria Atkins 5. Harriett Baldwin 6. Steve Barclay 7. Henry Bellingham 8. Guto Bebb 9. Richard Benyon 10. Paul Beresford 11. Peter Bottomley 12. Andrew Bowie 13. Karen Bradley 14. Steve Brine 15. James Brokenshire 16. Robert Buckland 17. Alex Burghart 18. Alistair Burt 19. Alun Cairns 20. James Cartlidge 21. Alex Chalk 22. Jo Churchill 23. Greg Clark 24. Colin Clark 25. Ken Clarke 26. James Cleverly 27. Thérèse Coffey 28. Alberto Costa 29. Glyn Davies 30. Jonathan Djanogly 31. Leo Docherty 32. Oliver Dowden 33. David Duguid 34. Alan Duncan 35. Philip Dunne 36. Michael Ellis 37. Tobias Ellwood 38. Mark Field 39. Vicky Ford 40. Kevin Foster 41. Lucy Frazer 42. George Freeman 43. Mike Freer 44. Mark Garnier 45. David Gauke 46. Nick Gibb 47. John Glen 48. Robert Goodwill 49. Michael Gove 50. Luke Graham 51. Richard Graham 52. Bill Grant 53. Helen Grant 54. Damian Green 55. Justine Greening 56. Dominic Grieve 57. Sam Gyimah 58. Kirstene Hair 59. Luke Hall 60. Philip Hammond 61. Stephen Hammond 62. Matt Hancock 63. Richard Harrington 64. Simon Hart 65. Oliver Heald 66. Peter Heaton-Jones 67. Damian Hinds 68. Simon Hoare 69. George Hollingbery 70. Kevin Hollinrake 71. Nigel Huddleston 72. Jeremy Hunt 73. Nick Hurd 74. Alister Jack (Teller) 75. Margot James 76. Sajid Javid 77. Robert Jenrick 78. Jo Johnson 79. Andrew Jones 80. Gillian Keegan 81. Seema Kennedy 82. Stephen Kerr 83. Mark Lancaster 84.
    [Show full text]
  • One Nation: Power, Hope, Community
    one nation power hope community power hope community Ed Miliband has set out his vision of One Nation: a country where everyone has a stake, prosperity is fairly shared, and we make a common life together. A group of Labour MPs, elected in 2010 and after, describe what this politics of national renewal means to them. It begins in the everyday life of work, family and local place. It is about the importance of having a sense of belonging and community, and sharing power and responsibility with people. It means reforming the state and the market in order to rebuild the economy, share power hope community prosperity, and end the living standards crisis. And it means doing politics in a different way: bottom up not top down, organising not managing. A new generation is changing Labour to change the country. Edited by Owen Smith and Rachael Reeves Contributors: Shabana Mahmood Rushanara Ali Catherine McKinnell Kate Green Gloria De Piero Lilian Greenwood Steve Reed Tristram Hunt Rachel Reeves Dan Jarvis Owen Smith Edited by Owen Smith and Rachel Reeves 9 781909 831001 1 ONE NATION power hope community Edited by Owen Smith & Rachel Reeves London 2013 3 First published 2013 Collection © the editors 2013 Individual articles © the author The authors have asserted their rights under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1998 to be identified as authors of this work. All rights reserved. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
    [Show full text]
  • Jun—Jul 2017
    B Our Magazine is published every Jun—Jul other month and is freely available to 2017 our members www.cenca.co.uk Stay ‘In Touch’ with the ISSUE 41 Corby & E Northants Conservative Association Published by RM Boyd on behalf of Corby & E Northants Conservative Association and Tom Pursglove, all at CENCA, Cottingham Road, Corby, NN17 1SZ Printed by Contract Printing Services Ltd., Unit J, Cavendish Courtyard, Sallow Road, Weldon North Industrial Estate, Corby, NN17 5DZ WE NEED TO WIN THIS ELECTION BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY TO SECURE THE BEST POSSIBLE DEAL FROM BREXIT Our future prosperity, our place in the world, Getting Brexit right matters because it will and our standard of living all depend on decide whether or not our children have a getting the Brexit deal right. safe, secure and prosperous future. The only way you can ensure we have the And with your help, together we can make it strong and stable leadership to get this work right is by backing me, and voting for the We will: local Conservative candidate, Tom • Take back control of our borders, our laws Pursglove, in the Corby & East Northants and our money constituency. • Sign new trade deals around the world with new friends and old partners • Ensure we leave in a smooth and orderly way, and that Brexit works for the whole of the United Kingdom • Provide as much clarity as possible at every Theresa May stage of the process, while maintaining a Prime Minister strong negotiating hand Conservative Association Chairman’s Report to Members Ray Boyd (Agent and Deputy Chairman—Membership) May 2017 elected and he has been true to this.
    [Show full text]
  • Dennis Skinner
    DENNIS SKINNER UK HOUSE OF COMMONS THE BEAST OF BOLSOVER He’s a conviction politician, he’s an unrepentant, old school socialist, he represents the place where he grew up in Derbyshire and he once did a real job for a living (he was a coalminer) – any one of those qualifications makes Dennis Skinner a rare specimen in British politics these days. He once said that he would retire at the age of 65, that to do otherwise would be to ‘take another man’s job’, So far, he’s gone 18 years beyond that, but nobody could ever accuse him of riding the gravy train: Skinner has arguably had the best attendance record in the House and yet frequently listed as claiming the least in expenses. He’s always spurned paid trips abroad, anything smacking of patronage and even the House of Commons bars – he prefers to meet visitors in the canteen. He’s also democracy’s most prolific and vituperative heckler and his sneering harangues have become legendary. Sometimes they’re funny; often they’re just bile and battery acid. He called one former cabinet minister ‘slimy’ and ‘a wart’ and another a ‘pompous sod’. He accused Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of being the sort who would bribe judges ‘to save her own neck’. Skinner’s staunchly against the monarchy, and the annual opening of Parliament has always triggered a response – usually directed at ‘Black Rod’ the liveried official sent to summon MPs to the House of Lords for the Queen’s speech. When a new Black Rod, the diminutive retired general, Michael Willcocks, made his first appearance, Skinner cried: ‘They’ve short-changed us! He’s nowt but a midget!’ For decades he was something of a hate figure for everyone who didn’t share his politics.
    [Show full text]
  • Rebooting the City Deal
    Rebooting the City Deal How can we make transport in the Cambridge region work better for everyone? The Greater Cambridge City Deal is a huge opportunity, with more than £500m at stake. Let’s be sure it leaves a legacy that future generations will thank us for. Come along to hear fresh ideas and discuss how to Rebootingimplem theent th eCitym. Deal Presentations by: How can we Cmakeolin H transportarris, Camb rinid gthee Co Cambridgennect region Edwardwork Leigh better, Smart eforr C aeveryone?mbridge Transport Rachel Aldred, Reader in Transport, University of Westminster Followed by panel discussion with: Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge and a shadow transport minister Julian Huppert, former MP for Cambridge and one of the architects of the City Deal Others to be confirmed Friday 14 October 2016 7:30-9pm Lee Hall, Wolfson College Barton Road, Cambridge CB3 9BB 2 Rebooting The City Deal – Autumn 2016 Rebooting The City Deal – Autumn 2016 3 About Our Panel Dr Rachel Aldred is Reader in Transport at the University of A Vision For The Region Westminster, teaching on Westminster’s MSc in Transport Planning and Management. She also sits on the editorial The Smarter Cambridge Transport team is developing and promoting a modern vision for board of Transport Reviews. In 2016, she was awarded the integrated and sustainable transport for Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire and beyond. ESRC Outstanding Impact in Public Policy Prize, and has been named as one of the ‘Progress 1000’ Most Influential We want people to have: Londoners. Smarter Cambridge • More travel options Transport is a broad • More predictable and quicker bus journey times Dr Colin Harris is Director of the environmental planning and group of impartial, unpaid • Easier interchanging between transport modes spatial data business Environmental Research & Assessment, • Simple payment for transport and parking located in Coton.
    [Show full text]