Luciana Berger, friend or foe?

Between now and the General Election on May 7 I'm highlighting 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 regulations and policies that infantilise us all. With a few exceptions, like this one, I'm focussing on marginal or semi-marginal seats.

#6 – Liverpool Wavertree
It would be a monumental surprise if former smoker Luciana Berger lost her seat. Having overcome local opposition to her selection in 2010, Labour's shadow health spokesman enjoyed a comfortable majority and if the Lib Dem vote collapses I expect her to win by a landslide this time. As readers know, I have a soft spot for Berger. I disagreed strongly with her advocacy of plain packaging and smoking in cars with children (and she is painfully 'on message' at times) but credit where credit's due - politically she played a blinder. After the election let's hope she's given a new job so she can wreak havoc elsewhere!

2010 majority: 7,167 (18.9%)
Estimated number of smokers in Liverpool Wavertree: 12,512*
Principal opponent: Liberal Democrats
Friend or foe: Foe
Target rating: Impregnable

*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.