The Editor of the Ham & High last week set out his views about the coming General Election battle in Hampstead & Kilburn. In the text he sets the scene for one of the great battles of the 2015 Election
When politicians knock on the door whether at your office or home, it’s usually a sign that an election is in the air.
While it is likely that the nation’s verdict on the Con Dem Coalition (which faltered in its first year, but now looks remarkably watertight) won’t be delivered for another couple of years, the battle for the coveted and marginal Hampstead & Kilburn seat is hotting up nicely.
That’s why Conservative bigwig Grant Shapps appeared at our Swiss Cottage office yesterday, with local contender Simon Marcus not far behind him. Both had the confident air of men who believe that the seat held for so long by Glenda Jackson is there for the taking and that Mr. Marcus, son of renowned local campaigner Helen, will be able to add the initials MP to his signature sometime around the spring of 2015.
By selecting their H&K candidate early, the Conservatives have stolen a march on their rivals. This time around, the Lib Dems won’t really be in the picture, and there seems to be an air of resignation among many Labour supporters I’ve spoken to: “When Glenda goes, the seat goes,” was the refreshingly concise but ruefully pessimistic view of one who was involved in the last election battle.
H&K was the most closely contested seat on the island last time around and that’s why the Tories smell blood. By my reckoning, about four out of every thousand voters need to switch their allegiance for the seat to change hands.
Apathy will also play a part but it’s already evident that the big mean Tory machine is slipping into gear and if Labour is to hold the seat, it needs to come out with all guns blazing. I hope it does: I like a good political battle and the one to be fought out in this part of North London promises to be as bruising as any.