Thursday, May 29, 2008

Keep it Local

The South Oxfordshire Conservative Association responsible for choosing the candidate to stand in the Henley by-election prompted by Boris Johnson's victory in London have decided not to select Boris' father Stanley, but instead have gone for a local candidate shortlist: though they have still to choose the actual candidate. The Chairman of the Association John Walsh claims, according to the BBC, that their reason for doing so is: "Where we have not chosen a local candidate the Liberal Democrats very much pick up on that and criticise it significantly. I think it is designed this time that nothing goes wrong. The primary importance is to make sure our electors turn out." An odd admission for a party riding high in the polls and fighting a safe seat. If marginal, unless of course there is a latent support for the Liberal Democrats and they are making a resurgence, it would be understandable but to think something might go wrong and admit it is unusual.

Meanwhile, and in true Liberal Democrat style, Stephen Kearney has a Facebook page, 10 supportive comments and 195 supporters (mostly from the party) and is positioning himself as the Champion for Henley; clearly it is increasingly the must have accessory for any serious candidate these days.

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