Editor's Blog: Here comes four weeks of misery
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Precisely a week today
Gordon Brown will put us all out of our misery, or launch four
weeks of misery, depending on how you view politics, by revealing
the nation’s worst kept secret, that he’s ‘going to the country’ on
May 6. In putting off the ‘election-that-never-was’ after his
promotion to prime minister in 2007 he forfeited the marginal
benefit of the ‘surprise element’ afforded to incumbents by our
quirky constitution (look out for the Lib Dems trying to get that
repealed if they hold the balance of power).
As
readers will know, the election for Ann Widdecombe’s replacement in
Maidstone and the Weald is already up and running with all
candidates having been in position as prospective parliamentary
candidates for some time. Helen Grant is odds-on (Maidstone has
elected Tory MPs since 1901 and they’ve got the cushion of a 14,000
majority) but she’s certain not to have it completely her own way.
Despite the constituency being true blue from a national
perspective, the Lib Dems have always made a good fist of things at
borough, and even county, level so there’s a base of support. On
top of that, Ms Grant has a formidable opponent in Peter Carroll
who has gained a national profile for his work on the Gurkha
campaign (being seen on TV alongside Joanna Lumley can do no one
any harm). The Tories will also lose the significant level of
personal support, which Ann Widdecombe has gained over four
previous elections.
So while it would be an
astonishing and seismic upset for the Conservatives to lose
Maidstone, it will certainly be a little more interesting than
recent campaigns – if you like that sort of thing, of course!
As we have mentioned in the paper,
we’re really interested in you getting involved in our coverage and
seeking your input and comments. In particular we’re after
first-time voters so if you were born on, or just before May 6,
1992, please get in touch either through the comments here or to me
at bbounds@thekmgroup.co.uk
I mentioned last week
that ground next to Notcutts, which normally contains a huge array
of tents from the nearly camping shop, had been cleared and asked
if anyone knew why. Well, it became apparent this week when a
rather larger tent arrived. Yes, the circus has come to town.
Tuesday, March 30 2010
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