FORMER Prime Minister, Lord Cameron, was pulling pints in Somerset yesterday (June 19) – but didn’t opt for a traditional county cider.
The foreign secretary was in Axbridge campaigning for Conservative Party candidate in the new Wells & Mendip Hills constituency, Meg Powell-Chandler.
And he was in familiar company, as the candidate was formerly an advisor in Number 10, including helping prepare the then-leader for PMQs.
As is traditional on such campaign visits, Lord Cameron’s appearance was not without some minor gaffes, including – in a campaign video filmed alongside the candidate in Axbridge – saying he was “in Wells” (we presume he meant the constituency and not the city, where he definitely wasn’t), as well as writing how the new gigafactory planned at Puriton was a “big opportunity for North Somerset”.
The proposed factory will not be in North Somerset, of course, but near Bridgwater, in the former Sedgemoor district.
But we’ll forgive him those mishaps, perhaps understandable for someone not overly familiar with the area. Opting to pull a pint of ale, rather than a cider however is altogether more serious, we’d suggest (even if it was Butcombe).
We jest, of course, and the former PM rolled back the years during his visit, with the slick campaigning style that became his trademark coming to the fore – and perhaps the ale was for someone else. Ms Powell-Chandler, on the other hand, went for a Thatcher’s.
Lord Cameron with Meg Powell-Chandler in a campaign video produced in Axbridge
“People in Wells and Mendip Hills couldn’t wish for a better MP than Meg,” he said.
“She’s someone I know well because she used to prepare me for Prime Ministers Questions each week and she did a brilliant job.
“As well as being a great champion for the area and full of energy she could really use her experience to help people in Somerset to navigate the system when they need help with something.”
He highlighted Conservative pledges for farmers, including a promise to increase the UK-wide farming budget by £1 billion over the next Parliament.
It comes as the Labour Party faced stiff criticism from the Tories over claims its manifesto spent just 87 words on the issue.
We checked that and 87 words is correct, if you take off the three-word heading, so Labour could argue it’s actually 90 words, which would be some argument to make…
Anyway, the point is clear, the Conservative manifesto does indeed feature a lot more detail on farming policy proposals.
However, to get more into the details, an NFU analysis of all of the major party’s manifestos is perhaps a better guide to what each actually proposes for the sector. It can be found at nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/commitment-checklist.
But back to Wells – or Axbridge – and Lord Cameron’s visit.
Ms Powell-Chandler faces a tough battle to win the new seat, which includes much of the former Wells constituency previously represented by fellow Tory, James Heappey.
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She is up against Lib Dem candidate Tessa Munt, who formerly represented the seat in Parliament herself (between 2010 and 2015).
The former MP said in a video posted on social media: “I think when we wake up on July 5, we are going to have a Labour government.
“The question is, who do you want to represent you here. The Conservatives are trying to spread fear about change but change is the one thing that we really, definitely need here. So after 14 years, it’s time for things to change.”
She added: “It’s only the Lib Dems who can beat the Conservatives here.”
The influential tactical voting website GetVoting.org agrees, advising people to vote Lib Dem if they want to defeat the Conservatives.
She has also received some recent big-name backing, in the form of Lib Dem big beast, Sir Vince Cable – a former Business Secretary in the coalition government – and author and comedian, Dr Phil Hammond.
Sir Vince Cable, left, and Dr Phil Hammond, with Lib Dem candidate, Tessa Munt
Reform UK is also standing in the seat, in the form of former UKIP member, Helen Hims, and popular Shepton Mallet Town Councillor, Abi McGuire, who is standing as an independent. For Labour, the candidate is Joe Joseph, a shepherd based near Glastonbury.
One thing is for sure, Ms Powell-Chandler will be hoping a bit of Lord Cameron’s campaigning stardust rubs off on her on July 4.
This week’s MRG poll by YouGov has the Wells & Mendip Hills seat down as a ‘likely Lib Dem gain’.
And the bookies have the Liberal Democrats down as the favourites for the win.
The full odds (via bet365) are: Liberal Democrats – 4/7, Conservatives – 5/4, Labour – 14/1, Reform UK – 150/1 and Green Party – 250/1. Odds are not listed for independent candidates.
The full list of candidates in Wells & Mendip Hills is:
Craig Clarke: Independent
Helen Hims: Reform UK
Joe Joseph: Labour & Co-operative Party
Abi McGuire: Independent
Tessa Munt: Liberal Democrats
Meg Powell-Chandler: Conservative and Unionist Party
Peter Alexander Welsh: Green Party
Wasn’t David Cameron the PM that ‘held’ the Brexit referendum, a vote that turned out so badly for farmers, and then bailed immediately he lost the vote. It’s funny you’ve chosen not to mention it!
Some however will never forget the damage he caused.