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Norwich North: an easy gain for the Conservatives?

Michael Crick | 16:36 UK time, Friday, 5 June 2009

Ian Gibson, who was the Labour MP for Norwich North has just announced he's standing down immediately as an MP, following the Labour Party's decision to ditch him as a candidate at the next election over his expense problems.

This means a by-election shortly in Norwich North.

An obvious candidate, in the circumstances, might be Martin Bell, who has strong Norwich connections and, like Gibson, supports Norwich City.

But Mr Bell has just told me he has no intention of standing for the seat.

"I think Ian Gibson's been rather badly treated by the Labour Party, and I've written to tell him so. There have been so many worse cases. And if all the miscreants were excluded from Parliament there would be hardly anybody left."

Still it should be an interesting contest. Labour's majority in Norwich North is 5,459, or 11.6%, which in the current climate should be a pretty easy gain for the Conservatives.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Ian Gibson was always the more independent Labour member and so they shafted him. Why aren't others getting shafted in the same way? It is this inconsistency which is becoming bothersome.

    Despite not liking his party I will own up to finding Ian Gibson interesting to listen to. One didn't have to agree with him but he always made a good case. Our loss methinks.

  • Comment number 2.

    My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out.

    Speaking of folk standing down, anyone else spring to mind, or stuff happening, politically?

  • Comment number 3.

    if there were no expense problems would there be resignations?

    many of the people making a big noise about resigning are those who have had expenses problems?

    they go out kicking and screaming and like drowning people try and take others down with them?

    what moral high ground are they claiming?

  • Comment number 4.

    Claude Swanson, Naval Secretary US Government 1933-39, " When the water reaches the upper levels, follow the rats!"

  • Comment number 5.

    Ian did not toe the party line, others who did find the way to high office and if you brownose enough Brown will reward you, difficulties over the Iraq war? Hold your nose, dear boy, and get into the yes lobby. Tuition fees a problem? Now what have I told you..there really is no alternative so be a good chap and get in there and vote. PFI#s and privatisation of hospitals upsetting you, with your father and grandfather spinning in their graves at your voting against your conscience...well, don't worry, old boy, remember you have a moat to clean and a fourth house to maintain so get in there and vote, vote, vote...what this big deal about conscience anyway? Maggie didn't have one so why should you?

  • Comment number 6.

    This is the political editor's latest blog, right?

    Nice to see it at the cutting edge.

    Just watched Ben Bradshaw on Sky (sorry, just trying to stay atop news some politicians would prefer the world did not get told of)and was moved to write

    Dear President Obama, Chancellor Merkel, etc,

    As we seem to get nothing but delusional Labour Ministers on TV saying that Gordon Brown is the only man for the job on the basis of a polite thank you note to the host of a recent party you attended, please can you just spare a moment to tell our Prime Minister that he is not the World saviour he, and only he (plus a few others, mostly unelected, who he is stocking what used to be a democratic Parliament with) thinks he is. It seems to be the only thing keeping these loons in power.

  • Comment number 7.

    Perhaps Mandelson should stand? Big name candidate and futhermore he would have real acountability to the Commons and the public.

  • Comment number 8.

    Having jumped through several hoops hope I have now arrived at the point to make a point. Why does the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ persist in including Roy Hattersley in its programmes ?? The old idiot is the same age as me but we can't get rid of him.

    How in the name of fairness can I receive an opportunity to rebut his
    repetitive "Holier than thou" attitude. Those of us who don't share his views are clearly destined for a few months re-education at an appropriate State Facility where' like Roy, we can have our brains rewired to the Mandelson propoganda machine.

    "Banker's recession" "Saving the world" See - it's already happening - aaagh!

    This old buffer is ready to discuss points with Roy at any time.

    Omnibill

  • Comment number 9.

    8. At 9:42pm on 06 Jun 2009, omnibillcotton :
    Why does the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ persist in including..


    The pool of those on call to respond to a researcher/booker's speed dial invitation to appear to comment does seem rather small.

    And, possibly, getting smaller, as those few who interpret events in ways the public needs to be exposed to start coming out with things that are no longer really enhancing the narrative as it 'should' be.

    I think Kevin Maguire will always be welcome, but even Polly seems to be straying.

  • Comment number 10.

    If Gordon Brown stays on until an election next May (because the PLP want to notch up another year's pension pot), what would happen were Labour to win. And more importantly, why is the Labour party so arrogant as to believe that the electorate has no right to be told honestly whom we might be electing as PM (yes we don't formally elect the PM, but it is not an unreasonable thing to know) for the second time running?

  • Comment number 11.

    I hear Craig Murray is standing as and Independent candidate in this By Election and with his local roots has a real chance of causing an upset as an anti-sleaze candidate. There was some interesting information on his blog the other day about his plans....

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