Wrexham ‘Non Target’ Seat For Conservatives

Filenames on the Conservative Party website have inadvertently indicated they do not consider Wrexham as a ‘target seat’ for the forthcoming General Election.

The original list was compiled last night by Wrexham expatriate Richard Taylor, and contains evidence of over 100 candidates whose images were placed in a directory entitled “Non%20target%20candidates“.

This morning we asked local Conservative candidate Andrew Atkinson for comment on the news the Conservatives do not apparently see Wrexham as a place worth competing over.

Mr Atkinson said: “Wrexham is a target seat. It’s my target. Different parties target different areas at different times. I am only concerned with one thing though and that’s doing the best I can for Wrexham.

“I have knocked thousands of doors across the constituency and I hope that residents like what I have to offer by way of a plan for the town and positive action. I want to put Wrexham well and truly back on the map and make sure we are never overlooked.”

We asked sitting MP Ian Lucas for his views on how the historic challengers to the seat have apparently branded it as ‘non target’. Mr Lucas said: “I don’t think it is sensible for any politician to make assumptions about voters.

“I am not, and am out every week as MP and as Labour’s candidate for Wrexham, talking to people and campaigning for a Labour Wrexham and a Labour Government.”

Clwyd South, Alyn & Deeside and other nearby constituencies are also on the list.

Mabon ap Gwynfor Plaid Cymru candidate for Clwyd South has branded it as the Conservatives ‘giving up’ in Clwyd South saying: “The Conservatives have given up on Clwyd South. It’s unsurprising, because there is so little between the London Parties that people can’t differentiate between them. Plaid Cymru is the only Party campaigning on issues that are of importance to people in this region.

“On Fracking; cuts to public services such as buses, libraries and leisure centres; improving our health services; pay for public workers – Plaid Cymru is the only party that has consistently been on the side of the people, and have been seen campaigning shoulder to shoulder with the people, while the Tories and Labour have voted together on Nuclear Weapons, Austerity and Fracking.”

Mr Atkinson countered saying: “I find it really sad that Plaid Cymru have tried to make political capital out of this. I believe that candidates should focus on their own positive message and not on negative campaigning.”

The Spectator, who have also run with the story, quote a Conservative source saying: “…any political analysis of the list is ‘completely wrong’ “, and that the files referred to now no longer exist.

UPDATE: Rob Walsh, the Welsh Liberal Democrats candidate for Wrexham, has been in touch to comment saying “I`m not surprised that Wrexham is a non-target seat for the Tories.

“They have never had a MP in Wrexham and have come 3rd in the last 2 elections. Hardly the springboard for a winning campaign. It seems that Wrexham is now a contest between myself and Mr. Lucas. Game on!”

With 12 weeks until the General Election on May 7th this appears to be the first shots of the General Election being fired locally…

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