Here we go. PM calls General Election
Labour has been victorious in recent Northants elections and could win constituencies it has not held for years
Rishi Sunak has today called a General Election, which could see the end to Conservative rule in Northants.
The county’s serving Conservative MPs could all face defeat at the election, which the PM announced this afternoon will happen on July 4. Earlier this month the Conservatives suffered a colossal, battering at the local council elections and is well behind in the polls.
The news, which has been rumoured over the last couple of days, will send candidates of all colours into campaigning overdrive, with many heading straight out onto the doorstep this evening.
Labour’s only MP Gen Kitchen said today:
“It’s time to end 14 years of Tory chaos and decline. I am regularly out on the doorstep talking to voters and I hear first-hand how working people are struggling with the cost of living and how they can’t get a doctor or dentist appointment. Families are worried about their children’s education and local residents tell me they are sick of the anti-social behaviour they have to put up with day in, day out.”
It will be her second election campaign within four months.
Her Labour colleague Lucy Rigby, who wants to replace former attorney general Michael Ellis as the MP for Northampton North, said:
“On 4th July, people here in Northampton North will get the opportunity to vote for change. After 14 years of the Tories, we’ve got the chance to get our country’s future back by voting Labour. I’m going to continue working hard for the better Northampton and Britain that I believe in, and I hope that residents will feel able to put their faith in me.”
One Conservative MP who will definitely not be returning to Westminster after the election will be Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton Harris. He announced at the start of this week he would not be standing again saying after 24 years, he wanted to ‘look for new challenges.’
A Tory source had told NN Journal, many Conservatives would be keen to replace him on the ballot paper, as Daventry is one of the safest seats in the country and predicted to narrowly withstand the forecasted Labour landslide. However as no-one has yet been selected it is expected Tory HQ will place someone without the usual selection process.
A conservative councillor told us:
“I think people know this is inevitable and it’s just a question of how many [MPs] we lose.”
Labour candidate for Corby and East Northants Lee Barron spoke to us from the campaign path - saying the PM called the election at 5pm and at 6pm he and his team were knocking doors.
He said:
“We are not resting on the fact the government is unpopular - It is incumbent for me now to put forward the Labour manifesto for change. It is time to give politics back to people, as I think people are sick and tired of Westminster.
This is the first July election since 1945 - and that election saw a transformational government returned.”
His rival, Tom Pursglove MP, who has held the seat since 2015, posted a statement on social media.
He said:
“As a Northamptonshire lad, being your Member of Parliament for Corby & East Northamptonshire is the greatest honour and privilege of my life.
“Over the last nine years, we have achieved so much - together - drawing in massive investment to our community and securing big upgrades to our public services that we all use. Alongside that work, I have always been a diligent and active constituency MP, both locally and in Parliament, supporting thousands and thousands and thousands of local people with a whole host of challenges, difficulties and concerns.
“Ultimately, I have always tried to be an active, available, hands-on constituency MP - who lives here, listens to you, and gets things done. I'm reliable, and with me you know what you'll always get - a grafter who delivers.”
As yet South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom, Northampton South MP Andrew Lewer and Northampton North MP Michael Ellis have not made a statement.
Change is the Labour Party’s slogan for this election. Speaking after the election was called Keir Starmer called it an ‘opportunity for change’.
He said:
“What the country needs and has been waiting for. Power returns to you. A chance to change for the better, your future, your community, your country.”
Labour are undoubtedly the favourites in the county, but the Liberal Democrats could do well. Their candidate Anna Savage Gunn picked up 25 per cent of the vote in the police, fire and crime commissioner elections and the Liberals will most likely do well in typically Conservative voting areas in the more rural parts of the county.
Jonathan Harris, a councillor on West Northamptonshire Council, is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Daventry.
He said:
“The Conservatives have been out of time and out of ideas for months if not years. Now it’s time to get them out of office. They have taken us for granted for far too long.
“I feel Heaton Harris has left Daventry largely to fend for itself, being pretty absent and invisible for many. I can't think of any representations made about Daventry that have been made in parliament.
“I hope our residents give consideration to Liberal Democrat values and progressive policies and vote for a local community champion.”
North Northamptonshire unitary councillor member Emily Fedorowycz is the Green Party candidate in Kettering and will be hoping to defeat Philip Hollbone.
She said:
“I’m delighted that the Prime Minister has finally listened to the people and called a general election. It’s time for someone to truly service the people of Kettering - all of the time, not just in the run up to the election.
“I have already been blown away by the support I have had from all sides and am excited to get into the meat of my campaign after a really strong start.
“As an experienced councillor and former Mayor of the town, I would be humbled to be chosen by the people of Kettering constituency to represent them - and I have big plans for our area.”
And Cllr Paul Clark, who has been highly critical of the Conservative administration in West Northants unitary and played a key role in bringing the domestic abuse allegations against leader Jonathan Nunn to light, will stand in North Northampton, announcing his decision today.
“I’m just fed up with local and national politics. I’m a proud Northamptonian and ordinary person and want to represent them. I think the big party groups are so detached from the people. I was a Conservative but I came away because I thought I would best serve the public as an independent. I use the same services and have the same frustrations, so I know what people want.”
We’ll be covering the twists and turns of this election over the coming weeks. Please share anything you hear with us. We’ll also be gathering together a crack team of reporters for the election counts across the county and so if you could subscribe and help us out with that cost, you can follow the link below.