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Poll predicts wipe-out for Labour in South-East
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent22.09.08
Labour is facing wipe-out in the South-East at the next general election, according to a new poll.
Outside London, the party would be left without a single seat. Even in the capital, the Tories would win at least 15 seats as David Cameron was swept into No10 with a Commons majority of 146.
The PoliticsHome.com survey of 35,000 voters in 238 key marginal seats makes dire reading for Labour MPs, but Cabinet minister John Denham dismissed its findings, insisting the Government would hold all its seats in the South-East.
However, many MPs will be alarmed by the poll which predicts a swing from Labour to the Tories of 14.5 per cent in London commuter-belt seats, 10.5 for outer London and 9.5 for inner London.
The switching allegiances are smaller than in some other parts of the country but would still mean health minister Ann Keen and her husband Alan losing their seats in Brentford & Isleworth and Feltham & Heston respectively.
Labour deputy leadership candidate Jon Cruddas would be ousted as the Tories gained Dagenham & Rainham, and so would Home Office minister Tony McNulty, MP for Harrow East, and consumer affairs minister Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West.
Other victims would be government whip Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting, senior Labour backbencher Andrew Dismore, MP for Hendon, as well as Ealing North Labour MP Stephen Pound. But Labour would win back Bethnal Green and Bow from Respect's George Galloway.
The South-East would be left with not a single Labour seat with losses in Brighton, Hove, Hastings & Rye, Southampton, Swindon, Dover, Crawley, Dartford, Slough, Harlow and Reading, as well as a string of other towns.
Across the country, Cabinet ministers voted out would include James Purnell, John Hutton, Jack Straw, Des Browne, Geoff Hoon, Ruth Kelly, Jacqui Smith and Mr Denham, as well as senior Blairites Charles Clarke and Alan Milburn.
However, Southampton Itchen MP Mr Denham told the BBC South-East Politics Show: "Gordon Brown... delivered for the South-East in the past and he'll deliver for the South-East in the future."
The Liberal Democrats would hold their London seats but lose 19 in other parts of the country, taking their total down to 44.
Reader views (19)
No vote on the European Constitution? No democracy in the UK and Europe? Big Brother rules all.
Think I'll show them how democracy works. "Good night, sweetheart .."
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Does anyone think any of these scrounging misfits will ever be employed by anyone EVER again? And Good riddance.
- Lezli Taubler, London/UK
I remember Blair in '97..Education,Education,Education....11 years on my kids are still crammed 30 to a class.Typically they have "let it all happen" ie,easy credit,mortgages,immigrants,benefits for all.Now the whole lot has blown up they have'nt a clue how to fix it.Have you noticed that there is not one statesman in New Labour..they are all from 'oop North or Sweaty Socks.Not able to string two words together.
- Chris, bushey
The only decent MP here is Jon Cruddas, the rest are hopeless Blairites who are welcome to join the dole lines.
- Keith Dehaverland, London, UK
Nothing changes in politics, with the tories you will get more of the same. Politics is bankrupt with no party having the nerve to represent true British interests, even if it means taking on the corporates.
- Zak, London
Can't wait to see them selling "The Big Issue".
- Jamal Akbhar, London.
This is excellent news, the sooner we get of this useless, rotten bunch of idiots the better. I was misled by Blair originally, we were promised Education, Education, Education, they failed on this, we were promised, tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime, they failed with this and we will be whiter than white, need I say more, this lot are more dishonest and corrupt that the Tories ever were. The Tories will have a difficult time sorting out the mess these twits made, lets just hope we never see Labour in power ever again.
- Pete Alexander, Felixstowe, Suffolk
The amazing thing is that there will be any Labour MP's anywhere!
- James, New Malden, Surrey
Excellent news. The strange thing is that the Govt cannot see that they have failed miserably in every area of society. It's also not about Brown, it's about the policies that are ruining the everyday lives of the electorate.
- Clarky, London
Its about time they all went!
- Charlie, London
in october 1993 the Canadain tory party got wiped out and only had two m.ps left the press joked at the time the polls led to the tories facing the same fate and one of the m.ps who would have kept his seat was john major so he wouldnt need to be worries about being ousted as leader but the other who would have kept his seat was micheal mates so on the other hand he might have faced a leadership challenge after all
- Jack, london uk
...and Prescott will still be saying they will win the election. What a numpty.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
The report actually states that the Lib Dems are to lose in Richmond upon Thames. This is not suprising, but the above story states that the Lib Dems will not lose any in London.
- Ian, Surbiton
Looks good to me !
- M Wilkinson, London UK
Fantastic news.
- Michael, London
No doubt Alan and Anne keen (aka MR and Mrs expenses) will be going into overdrive squirelling away what they can between now and the next election.
- Ken Smith, London
Bring it on! Lets all give a two fingered salute to labour on their way out, safe in the knowledge that they will be unelectable for a generation. Or at least until those out of work outnumber those who fund their extended periods of leisure!
- Jimbob, Kensington
"Cabinet ministers voted out would include James Purnell, John Hutton, Jack Straw, Des Browne, Geoff Hoon, Ruth Kelly, Jacqui Smith and Mr Denham, as well as senior Blairites Charles Clarke and Alan Milburn". Ha ha-better use the time left to improve unemployment benefits -all named will need it.
- Amoreno, luxembourg
Cannot wait.
- Mr.S.Port, London
