Liberal Democrat Colin Eldridge ponders third run at Liverpool Wavertree
Liberal Democrat Colin Eldridge is pondering a third run at becoming MP for Liverpool Wavertree, I am reliably informed.
Some had thought he would throw his hat in the race to become Merseyside's first elected police commissioner, but apparently Knowsley's Dave Smithson is the favourite to secure that candidacy.
One of the effects of the latest boundary commission's recommendation for the new constituencies is to make Wavertree an even more attractive seat to the Lib Dems - at least on paper. The seat is more winnable for the party than at any time since David Alton represented the old Mossley Hill constituency.
Wards like Woolton, Mossley Hill, Allerton and Hunts Cross, and Childwall will be part of the new Wavertree seat. Traditionally the Lib Dems did well in these wards, although that changed at this year's local elections.
Apparently Eldridge is now considering a third run, undeterred after polling 2,000 less votes in 2010 than he did in 2005. The seat was the Lib Dem top target seat in the North West at the last general election.
Eldridge made many mistakes in the campaign, chiefly an overly personal campaign against Labour's Luciana Berger that turned off voters.
The Liberal Democrats lavished a lot of money on the race for Wavertree that saw them get humiliated at the ballot box. Would the party be willing to double down and bet that Eldridge can make it third time lucky?
UPDATE: Richard Marbrow would challenge Eldridge for the nomination if he goes for the nomination for a third time, a source tells me this morning.
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David Bartlett
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Seriously? A reduced share of the vote for the third election running? Come clean, Colin. Can your ego survive this?
An "overly personal campaign" against Luciana Berger !! The filthy lies and innuendo that Labour put out about Colin Eldridge came straight out of the gutter.
Fewer votes David. Not 'polling 2000 less votes'.
The new Wavertree constituency is definitely more attractive for the lib dems, it contains 7 of the wards wards that the lib dems had all the councillors in until 2011.
However Eldridge is not the right candidate. I'd suggest Paula Keaveney would be a better bet to challenge for this seat. However marbrow would be a better challenger than Eldridge.
The new Wavertree constituency is definitely more attractive for the lib dems, it contains 7 of the wards wards that the lib dems had all the councillors in until 2011.
However Eldridge is not the right candidate. I'd suggest Paula Keaveney would be a better bet to challenge for this seat. However marbrow would be a better challenger than Eldridge.
You appear to have overlooked the fact that Labour won Mossley Hill,Childwall and Allerton at the last council electios-and came a close run third place in Woolton.
Given the fib dems are propping up a Tory government-and carrying out Tory policies-
the electorate will be most unforgiving.
The Fib Dems are finished in Liverpool