|
Post by where2travel on Jul 8, 2024 11:56:35 GMT
It still is. But it's just not quite as heavily Conservative as it was even 6 years ago. It is an excellent illustration of the difficulties the Tories find themselves in that they can no longer beat Labour overwhelmingly in West Wickham, or some similar wards. Comfortably, yes, but overwhelmingly not for the time being. As per my profile, the real killer for the Tories has been their precipitous decline in Clock House ward, which was competitive for them a decade ago, but is now very heavily Labour. Obviously not a direct mapping, but the 2022 elections gave a clear indication that reverting to the old Beckenham (pre-2010) seat the Tories won in 1997 would mean they were in with no chance at a General Election now (except in very good year for them). The Tory vote had ebbed away to the point of losing Copers Cope, and Labour secured 30-40% vote shares in Shortlands & Park Langley and Kelsey & Eden Park and were not far behind that in West Wickham. In 1997 the addition of West Wickham into the Beckenham seat saved the Tories, but it needs a lot more than that now with very little to properly balance out the Labour strongholds in the inner 3 wards.
|
|
|
Post by batman on Aug 14, 2024 20:09:14 GMT
It had only today come to my attention that the victorious Labour candidate is the son of none other than Sue Gray.
|
|
|
Post by where2travel on Aug 14, 2024 22:03:05 GMT
|
|