Final day of campaigning in Norwich North
By Alex Stevenson
Activists have finished a final day of campaigning before tomorrow’s close by-election in Norwich North.
Speaking to politics.co.uk today, Conservative candidate Chole Smith – the front runner in the race – stressed her local roots and stressed that her young age is an asset.
“I’m 27, I’ve never made any bones about that and actually I think one thing I can contribute is to put a little bit of energy back into politics. I think people around here are ready for that,” she said.
The poll was triggered after Labour MP Ian Gibson resigned his seat. His party’s star chamber had decided he could not stand again because of his expenses claims.
Ms Smith had nothing but warm words for the former MP today.
“Actually I’ve always said all along he was a good MP – in many ways we need another one like him,” she said.
“We need someone who is a strong local voice, who’ll stand up, who’ll be independent minded and will get the job done.”
But Bob Blizzard, Labour MP for Waveney, told politics.co.uk voters were more likely to turn out if they thought there was a threat of Tory victory.
“We think we’re definitely in there,” he said.
“We think there’s still everything to play for.
“The longer the campaign has gone on, we can see the choice facing the people of Norwich is to retain Norwich North as a Labour seat or to see it go Tory. When we put that to people we see our support turns up.”
Dr Gibson has publicly supported the Labour candidate, Chris Ostrowski, in what has been traditionally strong territory for the party.
But Mr Ostrowski’s personal campaigning hit an unexpected obstacle when he collapsed at home. He was taken to hospital and treated for suspected swine flu.
Norwich North voted Labour for most of its postwar history but turned to the Conservatives in 1983. Dr Gibson won the seat back for Labour in 1997 but his majority was cut to just under 5,500 in 2005.
Analysts are expecting Labour voters to stay away from the poll in protest at the centralised decision to barr their MP from standing.
The 12 candidates competing in the Norwich North by-election are:
Peter Baggs (independent)
Thomas Burridge (Libertarian party)
Anne Fryatt (None of The Above party)
Bill Holden (independent)
Laud Howling (The Official Monster Raving Loony party)
Craig Murray (Put an Honest Man into Parliament)
Chris Ostrowski (Labour)
April Pond (Liberal Democrat)
Rupert Read (Green party)
Chloe Smith (Conservative)
Glenn Tingle (Ukip)
Robert West (British National party)
