Hello again!
ROYAL MAIL: Lots of excitement is being generated this week in the preparation for roughly 10,000 postal votes being sent out to voters across the constituency over the weekend. This is the monumental moment for the Conservatives, as well as the opposition parties seeking to take the seat, so expect the number of activists turning up on the seat to play a key role.
LETTER WIN?: Contacting voters when postal votes go out is crucial, not only to remind these voters to get out and cast their ballot but also because they’re far more likely to consider voting for the party that spoke to them about it.
IT’S A PARTY: Last week, all of the candidates standing in the by-election was revealed. Here’s the full summary:
Suzie Akers-Smith (Independent) - Former Mayor of Congleton (a town in Cheshire). She was a Conservative from 2015 until 2019. Her Twitter account boldly proclaims that she will “rescue [the residents of North Shropshire] from Tory sleaze, lies and scandal.”
Andrea Allen (UKIP)
Boris Been Bunged (Rejoin EU) - A Boris Johnson impersonator, his real name is Drew Galdron.
Martin Daubney (Reclaim) - The former Brexit Party MEP for the West Midlands and apparently Deputy Leader of Reclaim.
Russell Dean (Party Party) - A yacht salesman who lives in Monaco.
James Elliot (Heritage) - Standing on a plan of “No more lockdowns, No ‘vaccine passports’, Reduce NHS waiting lists.”
Alan “Howling Laud” Hope (Monster Raving Loony)
Earl Jesse (Freedom Alliance)
Yolande Kenward (No description) - An independent who has previously stood in Maidstone and the Weald.
Duncan Kerr (Green)
Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrats)
Neil Shastri-Hurst (Conservatives)
Kirsty Walmsley (Reform UK)
Ben Wood (Labour)
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE: A minor amount of embarrassment was generated earlier this week with the Conservative MP for Walsall North, Eddie Hughes, telling Twitter that he had a “Very positive day campaigning in Wem for the North Staffs by-election.” which was of course is still up.
PAIN WITH THE CAMG: The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour, Reform UK and Greens all have their campaigns up and running with social media being full of candidates waving signs of their respective parties while surrounding the candidate. Over the last few weeks it was only the Liberal Democrats and Labour who had any real activity noted.
DUH: The ever reputable Guido Fawkes published a hard hitting “article” this week against Liberal Democrat candidate Helen Morgan, describing how she supported membership of the European Union. Shocking scoop.
N-H-S: The importance of healthcare is playing a central role in the campaign of all parties. Dr Shastri-Hurst, the Tory candidate, has come under fire for articles that he has written articulating that the NHS needs crucial reform away from its existing public health position. The Mirror has the story here.
FRIENDLY FIRE: Daniel Kawczynski, Conservative MP for Shrewsbury, at PMQs this week questioned the failure of delivery “over the last eight years” of £312 million to help modernise A&E services Shropshire. Interesting to note the Prime Ministers of those last eight years all being Conservatives…
STARS IN NS: Oliver Dowden, MP for Hertsmere and Conservative Party Chairman, was seen in the seat promoting Dr Shastri-Hurst’s campaign. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, was down once again for his third visit to the seat. Liberal Democrat MPs, Daisy Cooper, Tim Farron, Sarah Green, Alistair Carmichael, Wera Hobhouse and Munira Wilson down in the seat. Former Liberal Democrat MP Antoinette Sandbach was down too. Reform Party leader Richard Tice hopefully didn’t bump into his former MEP and Brexit Party friend who is standing in the seat. Labour MPs Nick Smith, Valerie Vaz and Shadow Health Minister Justin Madders came down.
CHOO CHOO: The MP for Daventry and Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, visited Oswestry this week to boost the bid of the Conservative candidate. Unrelated to this, he also explained how a desired rail line between Oswestry and Gobowen could become be viable to creation. The Shropshire Star explains more here.
THE BIG ISSUE: The BBC have a great article summarising the issues that are facing the constituents in North Shropshire that may swing the by-election.
LEAFLET LAND: Another “confidential briefing” has been sent out by the Liberal Democrats which reveal some of their key messages in the by-election. They’re pressing a focus onto the fact that the Conservative candidate isn’t local and the importance of the NHS:
WHAT THE BOOKIES ARE SAYING: The 3rd week of the campaign has the race firmly established, once again, between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Labour, Reform UK and the Greens have fallen further behind.
LADBROKES: The Conservatives are on 1/4, Liberal Democrats 11/4, Labour 50/1, Reform UK 50/1 and Greens 100/1.
SKYBET: The Conservatives are on 4/11, Liberal Democrats 5/2, Labour 16/1, Reform UK 33/1 and Greens 150/1.
WILLIAM HILL: The Conservatives are on 1/3, Liberal Democrats 9/4, Labour 20/1, Reform UK 33/1 and Greens 200/1.
SBK: The Conservatives are on 5/19, Liberal Democrats 37/10, Labour 26/1, Reform UK 33/1.
SMARKETS: The Conservatives are on 1/4, Liberal Democrats 7/2, Labour 25/1, Reform UK 32/1.