A self-proclaimed Conservative – “I’m Tory, my father was Tory, and I believe in the right” – the retired journalist began the conversation on the doorstep of his well-kept semi-detached house on the outskirts of Tiverton. Nothing could change his mind. Just 10 minutes later, the 87-year-old had admitted to Eleanor Rylance, a consultant from East Devon, that he did not believe Johnson would lead the Tories in the next election – and in fact preferred Jeremy Hunt. In addition, the Liberal Democrat candidate in the June 23 election was more impressive than his Tory counterpart, and even his cleaner was trying to persuade him to change votes. “Maybe I can be convinced,” Ritchie finally said. “I guess I’m still thinking about it.” The loss of the constituency in one of the two by-elections on Thursday this week would be a major blow to Johnson’s rule, as he has been Conservative since its inception 25 years ago, with the party enjoying a 24,000+ majority. 2019. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST That majority was given by Neil Parish, MP since 2010, who remains popular in many locals despite the unusual and obscure reasons for his resignation – admitting to having watched pornography on his phone in the House of Commons. “I mean, he was a stupid fool,” Ritchie said. “If he saw naughty photos anywhere else, it would not matter much. But in the room? It is like looking at them in church. That said, I know a lot of farmers and they thought it was great. He did a very good job for them. “ Richey is an example of a seeming change of mind, even in such pro-Brexit rural quarters, that transcends individual scandals and the aftermath of Downing Street parties: a sense that Conservative voters are taken for granted. Similar sentiments have been repeatedly expressed in two other election losses for the Tories over the past 12 months: first in the Chesam and Amersham passenger areas. then to even less likely North Shropshire territory. The Lib Dems have won both seats and, as with North Shropshire, have been placed as the main contenders in Tiverton and Honiton, despite finishing far from third in 2019, largely announcing that this is the case. With the Labor Party focusing on the other election on June 23 in Wakefield, the two opposition parties have essentially chosen to fight each other. Helen Morgan, who won North Shropshire for the Liberal Democrats in December, defeating a majority of nearly 23,000, noted the parallels with her race, but downgraded predictions that Devon’s seat would fall, calling it a “climbing mountain.” ». “The Conservatives were faster off the ground this time,” he said after attending a meeting of lawmakers with another lawmaker, Munira Wilson. “We have even seen them hand out leaflets here today. It will be a more difficult match “. Clearly terrified of election defeats and aware that a double defeat on June 23 could rekindle a challenge to Johnson’s rule, the prime minister campaigned in the constituency on Friday, as did Richie Sunak, the chancellor. scheduled “blitz”. of cabinet visits. In favor of the Liberal Democrats, their chosen candidate, Richard Ford, is a former Army officer and prominent local community volunteer who, party aides say, was not set up in a lab to attract soft-spoken voters. it just looks like it was. After a long tour of Petroc College’s Tiverton campus with Wilson, the party’s education representative, Foord repeated the scale of the project. “There are still many lifelong Conservatives here who will not change their habits,” he said. “But I also see some traditional Conservatives who can’t comply with Boris Johnson and his government and want to send them a message.” A small Tory victory would reduce the pressure on Johnson, but it could just as easily hide the extent of the party’s discomfort in such long-standing strongholds. Stevie Jenkins, who works in downtown Tiverton, is one step ahead of even Richey. Also, a former Tory voter is definitely voting for Lib Dem this time around, in part because she likes Foord, who says he “looks like an honest man.” “Many people who voted Conservatives for the first time in 2019 will not vote for Conservatives again,” Jenkins predicted. “It is not so much the parties, but the division, the quarrels. I was the director of a children’s group and it reminds me of children. It takes me back immediately. “
