Welcome!
CANDIDATE HOUR: Over the past week all major parties have declared their candidates with today as the date in which nominations close. By 5pm we’ll have the full idea on each and every candidate who is standing.
BIT FAR INNIT: The Conservative Party has revealed the most likely individual to become the next MP for North Shropshire, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst. Dr Shastri-Hurst is a barrister based in Birmingham and won the selection with over 50 percent of the vote in the first round of selection against two other candidates. He was previously a British Army Medical Officer and NHS consultant.
BORN-AND-BRED: It is understood that prior to the selection, the Tory candidate did not live in the constituency but has some links to Shropshire having been trained at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital as well as being based at Tern Hill Barracks. Both locations are based in the constituency.
TRUE BLUE: Dr Shastri-Hurst’s website details how he has "raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Conservative Party", and "has put on dinners for senior figures, including the former Prime Minister, Theresa May, shortly after her taking office". A proper insider.
SILENCE: The candidate has denied interview access from the media. In a statement he gave to BBC Midlands, he states that he “wanted to find out about the area before he does any interviews.”
DISAPPEARING ACT: Prior to the deletion of “Opinion Pieces” written by the Tory candidate, By-election Bonanza was able to read and summarise a few general views. He has argued for the cut-off of NI at 65 to be ended and the end of the triple lock, as well as “reform of the NHS”. Will these policies be used against him in the demographically old North Shropshire?
BIT LATE INNIT: The Liberal Democrats were the last of the big 3 parties contesting this by-election to announce their candidate, producing some worry from activists that not getting a name out soon enough would hurt their campaign. They have gone for Helen Morgan, an accountant who was the 2019 parliamentary candidate for the Lib Dems. She stood in The Meres ward in the 2021 local elections, losing out by 23 votes.
‘LUV THE NHS: In an interview with the LibDemVoice she sets out where the Liberal Democrat campaign may go: “There are two things. The NHS is obviously at the top of people’s minds. The other thing that has really come up is that our local farming community feel really sold out by the trade deals with Australia and New Zealand where their farmers are now going to able to be undercut our local industry. That’s the other issue that is really key for us.” This approach to the NHS can be seen in their latest leaflet:
PARLIAMENTARY POWER: Ed Davey was raising issues from the front line of the North Shropshire campaign in the House of Commons this week when he questioned Boris Johnson at PMQs about the closure of 4 community ambulance stations across Shropshire. You can see that here.
BIG BUCKS: Liberal Democrats have got a donor to agree to match donations up to £30K in a fundraiser email they sent out.
BIT LABOURIOUS INNIT: Ben Wood has been selected as the Labour candidate in the by-election. He set out his main priorities in an interview with Labour List “The closure of local ambulance stations in Market Drayton and Oswestry is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ll be putting forward a new plan with fresh ideas to give our area a brighter future, but I also want to bring a sense of decency back to our politics… North Shropshire needs a voice at Westminster that will always work for them. This is a two-horse [race] between Labour and the Tories – and I’m the only candidate who will stand up for our towns and villages at every opportunity.”
TYPICAL: Internal selection drama surrounded Wood’s selection as 3 time Labour candidate for North Shropshire, Graeme Currie, claims that the NEC (Labour’s governing body) blocked his inclusion onto the North Shropshire local members husting over social media posts.
GREEN SPROUT: The Green Party have selected Duncan Kerr as their candidate. Duncan Kerr is the Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry South, Chair of the Town Council’s Finance Committee and former Mayor. The Greens hold the Town Council with 12 councillors to 6 Conservatives.
OH NOT ANOTHER ONE: The Monster Raving Loony Party has announced that they’ll be standing in the by-election with their leader, Howling Laud Hope.
WHAT THE BOOKIES ARE SAYING: The 2nd week of the campaign has seen betting firms increase the chances of a Liberal Democrat victory while the Conservatives remain ahead and the rest of the parties fall increasingly behind. (All of these are accurate as of 18:00 on 11/11/21)
LADBROKES: The Conservatives are on 4/11, Liberal Democrats 5/2, Labour 16/1, Reform UK 33/1 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.
May be of interest…
THE LONG MILE: The Liberal Democrat HQ, while aesthetically pleasing, is a good 40 minute walk from the train station (although a bus is available).If you see hoards of yellow chino wearing activists up and down country roads, please ensure to understand their predicament.
THANK YOU: I hope you enjoyed this new format, this has been very fun to write. If you have any information that you think would work perfectly in next week’s edition please DM the By-election Bonanza Twitter Account @BBonanza_