Anna Soubry, friend or foe?
Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 15:00 Between now and the General Election on May 7 I'm going to highlight my top 40 'target seats', those where the candidate standing for re-election has consistently supported anti-tobacco policies, and those where a leading candidate is a consistent opponent of excessive lifestyle regulations and policies that infantilise us all. With a few exceptions, I'm focussing on marginal or semi-marginal seats.
#2 - Broxtowe
Elected in 2010, Conservative candidate (and former smoker) Anna Soubry excelled herself in office. As public health minister not only did she support plain packaging (on the dubious grounds that bright colours on fag packs encouraged her to start smoking), she also drove the EU's Tobacco Products Directive through Westminster with little regard for parliamentary procedure. To win the seat Labour need a 0.4% swing, easily manageable with the help of a few hundred disgruntled smokers. Against that Soubry has been high profile, which may work in her favour. Labour's candidate, former MP Nick Palmer, is described as "moderately" anti-smoking but anything's better than another five years of Ms Motormouth and her gurning aunt routine.
2010 majority: 389 (0.7%)
Estimated number of smokers in Broxtowe: 14,445*
Principal opponent: Labour
Friend or foe: Foe
Target rating: Vulnerable
*Based on 20% of the registered electorate in 2010
Note: marginal seats have been defined as those with majorities of 10% or less that require a swing of 5% for the incumbent party to lose.
Reader Comments (2)
I'd say with some confidence she's toast.
Foe, I think she'll lose her seat, Labour will win Broxtowe. However Ukip have a good candidate standing.