Local election

Thu 15 Sep 2016, 18:05

He was elected as a conservative, he crossed the floor for personal reasons.

Thu 15 Sep 2016, 13:59

don't forget that when Cameron was first elected for Witney, it was a "Tory gain from Labour". Remember Shaun Woodward? Bizarre things can happen in politics.

Wed 14 Sep 2016, 09:46

Yes Liz I just realised that - Will you be standing this time?

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 19:48

It's already called Witney

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 19:35

I see that under the boundary review the seat is proposed to be renamed Witney from West Oxfordshire

I would suggest we make the point that there is a lot more to the constituency than Witney and try to keep the old name

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 18:52 (last edited on Fri 16 Sep 2016, 13:11)

Since the seat was established in 1983, every Tory candidate has been:
- Oxbridge educated
- in the party's "one-nation" wing or even lefter
- ultimately in the Cabinet, though not necessarily under a Tory PM
- able to win by a mile.

Does anyone - except the odd self-deluding local councillor - really believe West Oxon Tories will want to abandon their winning formula? Or that Mrs May (who grew up in Enstone, remember) would let them dare suggest anything so mad?

With a tax-subsidised mortgage in the nicest part of Britain and lots of handy trains, this seat can command the very brightest Tories not yet in Parliament. Without scraping the barrel for "Marmite" candidates like Hannan or McVey.

I suspect Downing St's telling the Association right now to find someone close to Oxford West's Nicola Blackwood. Decent degree from Girton or Somerville, preferably starting in a State school, supporting a sensible outcome from Brexit talks but wouldn't kill herself if we never got round to leaving, capable of getting grudging respect even from those pesky Eynsham and Charlbury lefties.

And unlikely to socialise with the Chipping Norton set. Or be the subject of rumours - founded or not - about pigs' heads.

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 17:52

I see this has led to a resumption of hostilities between WODC and OCC, with James Mills saying today that the county council is in "desperate straits... unable to manage its own budget properly". That couldn't possibly be aimed at his potential rival for the nomination, could it...?

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 17:26

I think they should go for Boris - then the other parties might stand a chance!

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 16:48

Some say a certain TV personality may be interested. If he runs expect an explosive campaign.

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 13:15 (last edited on Tue 13 Sep 2016, 13:21)

Alice, yes I think it's definitely worth a try - at least as a trial run for future elections. However, I can't see Labour working with the Lib Dems. Also, have you seen the polls recently? "Don't know" is the next popular choice for PM after Theresa May (she is on 50%). Maybe the donkey idea is the only way forward (we could call the donkey "Don't Know" maybe?).

As for speculation about the Conservative candidate I see Toby Young's name was mentioned - heaven help us indeed!

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 11:57

Yes, sorry about the less than incisive Express link (which was a rip-off of Guido Fawkes speculation anyway) - I'm not a reader, it was just the first hit on Google.

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 11:06

If the Green's, Lib Dem's and Labour can't organise it together to come up with a good candidate that all of us can support, then it's back to the donkey I'm afraid. Isn't it worth a really good try?

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 10:46

Ladbrokes currently have James Mills (leader of WODC) as 2/1 favourite and Ian Hudspeth (leader of OCC) at 5/1, then uber-libertarian Dan Hannan (heaven help us) at 6/1.

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 10:41

"If another Tory MP is elected as expected, it will not narrow the Conservatives' slim majority in Parliament even further." The peerless analytical insight for which the Express is so rightly renowned.

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 09:23

There's some speculation in The Express about potential Conservative candidates for the by-election.

www.express.co.uk/news/politics/709890/Witney-by-election-what-happens-next-safe-Conservative-seat-who-replace-David-Cameron-MP

Tue 13 Sep 2016, 07:43

Maybe with their dreadful record and the new line up of Brexiteers, the Conservative candidate would get much less than 60% if there were a good cross party candidate?

Mon 12 Sep 2016, 22:28

Hows about a "stay in the EU" unity candidate?

Mon 12 Sep 2016, 21:31 (last edited on Mon 12 Sep 2016, 21:32)

Unfortunately the Conservative candidate got over 60% of the vote in 2015 but a good idea for other more marginal seats in the next general election. What about a Charlbury Independence Party candidate (CHIP)?

Mon 12 Sep 2016, 21:21

Even better - how about the Green's, Lib Dem's & Labour supporting one candidate?

Mon 12 Sep 2016, 15:48

So the Dean Pit fiasco has finally claimed it's first victim. He had no option but to resign...

Mon 12 Sep 2016, 15:41

Does anybody have a donkey who would be prepared to stand in a forthcoming local election as an independent? In the tradition of Mayor H'Angus the Monkey of Hartlepool. I would put money on it that they wouldn't loose their deposit!