Knight to lose Dorset seat, but Brooke to stay – claims poll (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Knight to lose Dorset seat, but Brooke to stay – claims poll
7:44am Monday 5th October 2009 in
GOVERNMENT minister Jim Knight will be ousted at next year’s general election but the Liberal Democrats will hold their seat in Dorset, according to a poll.
The YouGov survey of marginal constituencies, published over the weekend, suggested South Dorset will turn blue, while the neighbouring constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole will remain in Lib Dem hands.
Labour frontbencher Mr Knight, who has held on to his seat at the last two elections, looks set to fall victim to the predicted Conservative surge.
But the South Dorset MP yesterday said he had overcome a similar challenge in past victories.
“It is a background I am used to working under,” he said.
“In South Dorset every vote counts, so people should not be complacent.”
Mr Knight predicted voters would be wary of changing governments as the “fragile signs of recovery” from the recession begin to emerge next year.
On a local level, he picked out the Weymouth relief road and halting the Purbeck bedroom tax as examples of his success stories in the last term.
Tory Richard Drax is the man set to inherit Mr Knight’s seat.
Judy Jamieson, campaigns manager for the Conservatives in Dorset, said all the indications were it would be a close battle in South Dorset.
She said: “The only real poll comes on election night. Everything is up for grabs.”
The poll suggests Lib Dem Annette Brooke would fend off the challenge Tory Nick King in her Mid Dorset and North Poole seat, though again a tight vote looks a certainty.
Mrs Brooke said nationally the Conservatives were ahead “by default” and there was everything to play for.
She added: “My motive for being in politics was to be a good constituency MP and that is what I want to continue to do.”
Mr King praised Mrs Brooke as a “very good local MP” but said if people wanted to vote for a new government, he was the “realistic” choice in the constituency.
Comments(11)
crispy_pants
says...
8:50am Mon 5 Oct 09
sasks
says...
9:30am Mon 5 Oct 09
crispy_pants wrote:No the conservatives are (insert sinister laugh)
Is A. Brooke preparing for government???? Ho Ho
All Seeing Eye
says...
10:11am Mon 5 Oct 09
What has he done for the area except look after his two pubs? Even when a mobile cafe at Baiter of 20 years standing is called to be closed by him, one wonders if it was because it would be lowing taking from the Sloop! Now he jumps on the bandwagon and is trying to stop our fine town of having a permanent football pitch. If he had any sense he would be petitioning for the football club to go back to its rightful place Poole Stadium.
Phil Eades like the rest of the Lib-Dems are a waste of space - they are frightened to death of the Masonic Brotherhood and never cross their paths - just like they do at Westminster!!!
How high can an ego get?????
anderton
says...
11:23am Mon 5 Oct 09
All Seeing Eye wrote:Eades an MP,that is funny,its typical of the LibDems,and with Eades ego,on the same par as Annette Brooks,Nick King should have no problems,as people can see through the both of them,as glory seekers.
Funniest thing I have heard - not funny really but that Philip Eades Lib Dem for Poole Council is applying to become a parliamentary candidate!!!! Does he want to change one cushy job as a local councillor for another at Westminster?
What has he done for the area except look after his two pubs? Even when a mobile cafe at Baiter of 20 years standing is called to be closed by him, one wonders if it was because it would be lowing taking from the Sloop! Now he jumps on the bandwagon and is trying to stop our fine town of having a permanent football pitch. If he had any sense he would be petitioning for the football club to go back to its rightful place Poole Stadium.
Phil Eades like the rest of the Lib-Dems are a waste of space - they are frightened to death of the Masonic Brotherhood and never cross their paths - just like they do at Westminster!!!
How high can an ego get?????
AKKA
says...
12:20pm Mon 5 Oct 09
Why does she want to be an MP anyway? The illiberal, undemocratic party did its damndest to make sure Westminster has no powers.
Oh yes, a handsome salary, expenses and delicious pension.
upontown
says...
12:41pm Mon 5 Oct 09
poolebabe
says...
2:56pm Mon 5 Oct 09
purbeckpara
says...
7:11pm Mon 5 Oct 09
lovetheuk
says...
12:18am Tue 6 Oct 09
Purbeckboy
says...
10:44pm Tue 6 Oct 09
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sasks says...
8:43am Mon 5 Oct 09