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City Cruises York

Leak suggests the Tories don’t think they can win York Central

Tuesday 10 February, 2015 @ 10.17 pm News, Politics YorkMix
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Do Tory bosses think their campaign in York Central is already sunk? Photographs © Harry Mitchell and Toms Norde on Wikimedia Commons

Now here’s a thing. The Conservatives have let quite a big cat out of the election bag.

It seems they have inadvertently revealed that the York Central constituency is not a Tory target seat.

Like all the parties contesting the General Election on May 7, the Tories have lists of seats they think are safe, that are winnable and that are most likely out of reach.

Usually they try to keep that a secret.

URLs bells…

The Conservatives have never been the most internet savvy party.

And it seems someone at Tory HQ decided to save images of its candidates in certain constituencies with this three-word phrase in the URL address:

Non%20target%20candidates

This was gleefully revealed on the website of PR man and Liberal Democrat Mark Pack. Here’s an example:

Conservative-Party-website-790x350

A non-target seat is either one that they think is a walkover – or one they can’t win.

York Central a no-go?

Now the full list of “non-target candidates” has been revealed. And it includes the name of one Robert McIlveen, Conservative candidate for York Outer.

As this seat was won by Labour MP Hugh Bayley with a 6,400 vote majority in 2010 (Labour 40% of votes, Tories 26%), it looks to be labelled a non-target because Tory central office consider it unwinnable.

Incidentally, if you type in the URL for Robert’s Conservative HQ photograph, this now comes up:

conservative-website-error

Perhaps some hasty deleting has taken place.

‘Fighting for votes’

robert-mcilveen-campaigning-york
Robert McIlveen and some of his supporters campaign in York. Photograph: Robert McIlveen on Twitter
Robert McIlveen played down the significance of the faux pas when contacted by YorkMix.

He told us:

The national media love to talk about target seats, but on the ground here in York we are fighting hard for every vote.

Labour in York might take this city for granted, but with the incompetence they have shown running the council they might be in for a surprise in May.

The Labour Party is yet to pick a candidate.

Election ‘most open for years’

nick-love-nick-clegg
The two Nicks… Love and Clegg. Photograph: Nick Love on Facebook
The Lib Dem candidate for York Central Nick Love had a different take on things. He said:

I don’t think that this is an acknowledgement that York is a safe Labour seat, but rather that the Tories selected a London resident as a candidate who would use this election as useful experience – before Hugh Bayley announced his retirement.

This election actually seems to be the most open and uncertain for years.

Nick said people are telling him that they don’t want a candidate who sees “being a York MP as just a logical extension of their career path”.

They want a long term York resident who is authentic. Someone with a life outside of politics that can represent real people and not focus groups.

Someone who doesn’t see York as a meal ticket, with recent working life experience outside of politics, who will put theirs and York’s interests before personal political career ambition.

It could be a very interesting contest.

Class, integrity and carpetbagging: Labour’s MP selection in York

Bayley bails: York MP to quit after 23 years

Dafydd Williams elected Labour leader – promises to change York politics

10 Comments
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Matthew Laverack
7 years ago

It is unwise to make assumptions.

There has just been a State election in Queensland, Australia.

The ruling Liberal/Nationals (equivalent of UK conservatives) had a huge majority and were expected to comfortably be returned, albeit with a few lost seats including possibly their own leader.

Everyone said they would win easily. TV pundits, radio, press. Even the opposition admitted they had little chance.

BUT
On the day Labour did incredibly well and came first (but only just).
With the help of independents who hold the balance of power Labour are now in government in Queensland.

So never presume anything.
The only poll that counts is the one on polling day.

Given the imposition of female only candidates by Labour in York; and a final short list with no local representative it is quite possible for them to lose the seat.

0
Matthew Stamp
7 years ago

With huge Baylie I agree now he is stepping down who knows

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Adrian Brown
7 years ago

Guess we’d best show ‘Dave’ he’s wrong and give the Conservatives a landslide victory in York Central 😊

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Andie J. Nelson
7 years ago

If they don’t think they can take York in its current shambolic state, they never will.

0
John Jones
7 years ago

I think that they haven’t considered the depth and strength of feeling of York residents who are utterly appalled at how ineffective the Labour council has been.

0
Mark Richardson
Reply to  John Jones
7 years ago

Well said Mr Jones.

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Harry Wilkinson
7 years ago

If there’s ever been a time to really go for it in York Central, it’s now!

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Steven Goodman
7 years ago

well i think they can well i hope they can

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Harry Scoffin
7 years ago

Huw Davies Harry Wilkinson Sad times. Especially what with the Labour MP retiring meaning no incumbency factor for new Conservative to work against. And ground sentiment has been hardening against the incompetent Labour-run council. Looks like this time central office have underestimated the potential for York Central to go blue!

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Huw Davies
7 years ago

We should fight to win every seat. I don’t care whether the national Party say that or not, that’s my line.

0

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