Michael Fabricant

Conservative Party | Lichfield

Staffordshire is the new Surrey

8 June 1009

Commenting on the County and European election results in Staffordshire, Michael Fabricant says: "These are extraordinary results. Politically, Staffordshire has become the new Surrey. We are now the Conservative heartland.

"The Conservatives control 79% of all County wards in Staffordshire, 70% in Surrey. In the Euro Elections in Lichfield and Burntwood, the Conservatives came top with almost four times as many votes as Labour who came behind UKIP and the Liberal Democrats who won only marginally more votes than the Labour Party. Even in Hednesford, previously a safe Labour town, their candidate - who is replacing Tony Wright as the Labour Parliamentary candidate at the next General Election - came a poor third. She must now be wondering whether she can hold Cannock Chase for Labour in the General Election when it is finally called.

"But Conservatives must not be complacent. If Gordon Brown survives, he will call the election when it best suits him. But with Labour being at their lowest point since 1918, his options are limited."

Michael adds: "Of course there are reasons why Surrey has fewer councillors as a percentage of total council wards than Staffordshire. The Conservatives are the incumbent party in control in Surrey and there are pockets of support for Independent Ratepayers and Liberal-Democrats."