After the sad death of one of Cheltenham’s County Councillors, August 16th 2007 saw the by-election in the Cheltenham wards of Lansdown, Warden Hill and Park, an area which covers around one fifth of Cheltenham. In the weeks leading up to polling day it became obvious that it was a two horse race between the Liberal Democrat Candidate Martin Dunne; personally back by Martin Horwood MP, and the Conservative Candidate Antonia Noble.
Throughout the campaign the Lib Dems used a variety of techniques to try and discredit Antonia and her policies. The main issue throughout the campaign was not, as one would have expected, the issue of flooding and flood prevention following the crisis earlier in the summer but the concern over ‘Parkway station’, a liberal democrat idea to create a super station between Cheltenham and Gloucester. This idea was further backed by the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Transport, John Cordwell, implying that Parkway station would go ahead regardless of public opinion. Once public support for the idea turned against them the Lib Dems began shifting the blame onto us claiming that we would be closing Cheltenham Spa station should Parkway go ahead, that the scheme was our idea originally and even going to great lengths to publicly disassociate themselves from their spokesman for Transport.
After weeks of campaigning, polling day dawned with the keener members of Cheltenham Conservatives kicking the day off with a 5:45am leaflet drop. Somewhat later in the day I set out leafleting, soon joined by Nick Roche-Kerr and Adam Sawyer of UCL, Phil Jardine of Coventry CF and Gordon Taylor of Gloucestershire CF. We spent the day leafleting, door knocking and generally urging the public to ‘Vote for Antonia Noble’ and ‘The party who keep their promises’.
Once the others had left I was joined by former UCL Conservatives President Richard Jackson. Richard and I made the final push urging the public to vote, had they not done so already, before the stations closed at 10pm. Once the sun had set and the polls had closed Richard made his departure to Hereford while, I sped off to ‘The Count’. After many attempts, all of which were in vain, to sweet talk, bribe and generally convince the guard to let me attend ‘The Count’, I was left waiting outside with a few fellow Conservatives, while waiting we discussed the campaign, Lib Dem tactics and the like.
Shortly after 11pm the results were announced: Green Party- 184, Labour- 226, Liberal Democrats- 1605, Conservatives- 2208. Not only had Antonia won she had managed to increase our lead to over 600 and proved that running a good, honest campaign is the best way to play it. This was also a positive boost in the campaign to turn Mark Coote PPC into Mark Coote MP.
On behalf of Cheltenham Conservatives I would like to personally thank all those who helped out, you were indispensable and on behalf of UCL Conservatives I would like to congratulate Antonia and wish her all the best in her term of office, may it be a long and successful one!
Conservative Future have launched a special campaign to create a petition against the ID card scheme.
