MPs who need your vote
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 7:00 Are you sitting comfortably? Here's the bad news.
I've been doing a little research and no fewer than 16 of the top 40 marginal seats held by the Conservative party (and targeted by Labour) were represented by MPs (now candidates) who voted against plain packaging in March.
In contrast, only eleven of the top 40 Tory seats targeted by Labour are being fought by MPs/candidates who voted in favour of plain packaging.
In other words, a substantial number of MPs who are naturally opposed to excessive regulation could lose their seats. For the record they are:
Jackie Doyle-Price, Thurrock
Mark Spencer, Sherwood
Nigel Mills, Amber Valley
Paul Uppal, Wolverhampton South West
John Stevenson, Carlisle
David Morris, Morecambe & Lunesdale
Karl McCartney, Lincoln
Richard Fuller, Bedford
Simon Kirby, Brighton Kemptown
Mary MacLeod, Brentford & Isleworth
Nick de Bois, Enfield North
Ben Gummer, Ipswich
David Nuttall, Bury North
Chris Skidmore, Kingswood
Stephen Mosley, City of Chester
Esther McVey, Wirral West
As for the Tory candidates who supported plain packaging and are currently hanging on to their own marginal seats, they are:
Matthew Offord, Hendon
Peter Aldous, Waveney
Stuart Andrew, Pudsey
James Morris, Halesowen & Rowley Regis
Marcus Jones, Nuneaton
Richard Graham, Gloucester
Michael Ellis, Northampton North
Paul Maynard, Blackpool North & Cleveleys
Gavin Barwell, Croydon Central
Robin Walker, Worcester
Kris Hopkins, Keighley
I have focussed on Tory marginals targeted by Labour because they appear more vulnerable than Tory marginals targeted by the Lib Dems.
The elephant in the room is of course Ukip. Given that both Ukip MPs (Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless) voted against plain packaging and the party is opposed to the smoking ban, the attraction of voting for the party - if you're libertarian on these issues - is obvious.
The problem is that a vote for Ukip in certain constituencies could result in the loss of some very good MPs who are naturally opposed to Big Government.
Personally, if my MP's voting record suggested a consistent commitment to small government and less regulation I would support them regardless of the party they represented.
If, on the other hand, their voting record indicated otherwise I would vote for someone else.
What I'm trying to say is, don't destroy the careers of politicians like David Nuttall or Karl McCartney just because you want to 'hurt' David Cameron.
Likewise, if your natural inclination is to vote for one of the mainstream parties, make an exception for the likes of Carswell and Reckless. I'm not a fan of defectors, mid parliament especially, but on the basis of their voting records they deserve our support.
See also the full list of MPs who voted against plain packaging in 2015 and the list of MPs who voted in favour of David Nuttall's ten-minute rule bill to amend the smoking ban in 2010.
Reader Comments (5)
Unfortunately, Jonathan Evans MP is not the candidate for Cardiff North this year. I'm not sure why. The new Conservative candidate is Craig Williams (@Craig4CardiffN on twitter)
I love Karl. It isn't about hurting David Cameron. It's about trying to be listened to and force both parties to stop attacking me and others like me - and bring a real change of direction on this issue.
Five years of Labour should anger the public to boiling point and make the Tories realise that by backing the smokerphobic industry - which votes Labour anyway - it will lose the election and a potential 20 million votes it could gain.
Tories cannot have it both ways. They cannot try and legislate us out of existence, and keep funding vile and abusive ad campaigns against us, like invisible smoke, and then expect to get our support.
I'm sorry for Karl. He should cross over, make UKIP viable here, and then we all know exactly where we stand, who we are voting for and more importantly what we are voting for.
If I vote Conservative, I am saying bring on the home ban and the outdoor ban which Karl will vote against but won't stop.
Labour will bring in both anyway but as I said - what difference?
AnalogueBetter - corrected, thanks.
In light of my previous comments I feel that this post is intended to appeal to people such as myself.
My MP is Nigel Mills. Both Nigel and his main opponent Kevin Gillot are locals and both have actually worked outside politics for a living. Nigel is a chartered accountant so will probably do OK if he loses. Kevin is a solicitor who works for the Crown so probably also OK career wise if he doesn't win.
In their favour, neither are typical political Westminster creatures but unfortunately either man will have limited influence if elected and therein lies the problem.
I do take your point but as the state sponsored bullying escalates and is actively supported by the arrogant elites who head both men's parties, I cannot but help feel that voting for either my Labour or Conservative candidate is unfortunately encouraging more health fascism, whether they personally support it or not.
I have a problem with voting fascist so am conflicted. I was hoping for some sign that change is even being considered but none is forthcoming from Cameron and his clique and I expect nothing from the even more dreadful authoritarians opposite.
I knew my MP wouldn't feature on your "good guys" list, Simon, as I mentioned in my previous comments, because she's an anti of the first order and never misses an opportunity to apply the jackboot to the face of smokers whenever she gets the chance. I guess the one good thing about that is that it makes my decision as to who to vote for a very easy one. Round here we're marginal Tory/LibDem, but as the LibDems are as bad as, if not worse than, Labour when it comes to smoking (they actually proposed a full-on ban in their manifesto at the same time as Labour proposed their "food-serving only" proposal), there's no way I'd vote for them, either.
So, no prizes for knowing which box I'll be putting my cross in ...