Theresa May flooding Copeland and Stoke Central with Tory MPs and activists as she bids for shock victories
THERESA May has flooded two Labour safe seats with Tory MPs and activists in a bid to make by-election history today.
Voters go to the polls in Copeland and Stoke Central after their two moderate Labour MPs abandoned Jeremy Corbyn to resign.
In knife edge races, the Tories are ahead in the remote Cumbria seat and second in the potteries town – with a vicious downpour from Storm Doris also expected to wreak havoc in the unpredictable turnout.
A government hasn’t taken a seat off the opposition in a by-election since 1982, and never two on the same day.
Last night a senior Tory MP who was overseeing campaigning efforts said Stoke Central was “competitive.”
They added: “The very fact that we are even in a position where Labour are nervous about losing a such a safe seat speak speaks volumes about the state of the party.”
And they claimed that the Staffordshire fight “will be very close – with possibly just a couple of percentage points between Labour, Tories and Ukip.”
It has also been confirmed that Tory party chairman Sir Patrick Mcloughlin will today visit both the seats in a last ditch effort to get out the vote.
Ahead of the crunch votes Jeremy Corbyn used Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday to criticise the Government’s approach to the NHS.
The final exchange between the two leaders resulted in noisy and angry scenes in the Commons.
Labour have been a accused of running a very negative campaign against the Tories in Copeland over threats to local NHS services.
Leaflets claimed that babies will die if the Conservatives won, as they would cut maternity services in the Cumbria seat.
Conservative Will Quince — whose son was stillborn — branded the tactics “disgusting” and said claims had “no place in mainstream politics”.
But Labour defended the controversial warnings, insisting that downgrading local NHS services would threaten lives.
Last night a senior Tory MP coordinating campaigning in Copeland said: “this has been a Labour seat since 1931 and if we win it would be absolutely staggering gain.”
But he blasted Labour for “running a very dirty campaign — it has been despicable and scandalous.”
They added: “There is so much hostility here in Cumbria to Jeremy Corbyn, if Labour cling on it will be down to their scaremongering.”
A loss in either safe seat will likely reignited Labour’s bloody civil war and heap fresh pressure for Mr Corbyn to quit or risk electoral wipeout in 2020.
When is the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election?
Voters in Stoke-on-Trent Central will go to the polls on February 23 - the same day as another crucial by-election in Copeland, Cumbria.
So far five candidates have declared, but more are expected to throw their hats into the ring before nominations close.
Recent by-elections have attracted as many as 11 candidates including representatives from fringe parties and independents.
Who is standing in the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election?
Local councillor Gareth Snell was selected to defend Labour's 5,179 majority at the 2015 general election.
The former leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has previously worked for Tristram Hunt and campaign for Remain in the Brexit referendum.
Even before the controversies surrounding Labour's campaign, observers marked this out as a possible weakness in a city that overwhelmingly voted for Britain to leave the EU.
He said: "I'm proud to come from the Potteries and even prouder to be standing to represent our home in Parliament."
The biggest threat is still expected to come from Ukip leader Paul Nuttall, who hailed Stoke the "Capital of Brexit" when he confirmed he is standing.
Ukip came second in 2015 but Brexit-backing campaign group Labour Leave predicted Mr Nuttall will triumph with a lead of ten points.
The Conservatives chose 25-year-old local councillor Jack Brereton to contest the seat.
He said: "This by-election has come at a crucial time for our country.
"It is an opportunity for the people of Stoke to send a message that the referendum result must be respected, and to back the Prime Minister's clear plan to make a success of Brexit."
Consultant cardiologist Zulfiqar Ali is the Liberal Democrat candidate. He also stood in 2015 when he came fifth with just 4.2 per cent of votes.
The Lib Dems had won strong second places in 2010 and 2005, but support has collapsed.
The final declared candidate is retired merchant seaman Godfrey Davies of the Christian People's Alliance.
Why did Tristram Hunt resign as MP?
After being re-elected in May 2015 with a majority of 5,179, Hunt announced he was stepping down from the shadow cabinet following Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour leader.
The pair had “substantial political differences”, he said.
The backbencher announced he would be resigning as an MP in order to take up a post as director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
In a letter to MPs, he said it had been a “profound privilege” to represent The Potteries in Parliament for six-and-a-half years.
I have no desire to rock the boat now and anyone who interprets my decision to leave in that way is just plain wrong.
Tristram Hunt MP
He wrote: “As I enter a new role as a public servant, I will be leaving partisan politics behind me and will work impartially as a museum director.
“I am sorry to put you, the party and the people of Stoke-on-Trent through a by-election.
“I have no desire to rock the boat now and anyone who interprets my decision to leave in that way is just plain wrong.”
Chairman of V&A said he “greatly looked forward” to working with the politician.
Why is Stoke-on-Trent Central known as Brexit capital of the UK?
Almost 70 per cent of the population voted for Brexit, way over the average of 51.9 per cent.
It was dubbed the Brexit capital of the UK after 81,563 people chose to Leave the European Referendum over 36,027 remainers.
Fierce Remoaner Mr Hunt was quoted as saying before the referendum, “Leaving the EU would be a self-defeating dereliction of duty and history”.
Following the defeat, he said: "I am very disappointed that we have voted to leave the European Union, and I am disappointed that the argument to stay didn't carry the vote in Stoke-on-Trent where feelings were very strong about migration, public services and wage rates.
"We shouldn't rush into an exit, we should think carefully about the implications of the vote."
What have been the results of recent by-elections?
On June 16, 2016 Rosena Allin-Khan retained Labour's seat in Tooting after Sadiq Khan stepped down to become Mayor of London.
Labour also managed to keep control of Jo Cox's constituency after she was brutally murdered in Batley and Spen.
Ex-Corrie actress Tracy Brabin was elected on October 20, 2016.
The Conservatives also managed to cling on to ex-Prime Minister David Cameron's Witney seat when Robert Courts was elected on October 20.
But on December 1, Tory Zac Goldsmith lost his control of Richmond Park as Liberal Democrats overturned 23,000 majority.
Sarah Olney took advantage of Goldsmith's decision to run as an independent after triggering a by-election over plans to expand Heathrow airport.
The heavy defeat was costly to the Conservatives, but they managed to keep Sleaford and North Hykeham blue when Stephen Phillips quit because of “irreconcilable policy differences” with the government” over Brexit.
Conservative Caroline Johnson triumphed in the December 8 by-election, easing Tory fears of a Ukip takeover in the constituency.
How long has Labour held the Stoke-on-Trent Central seat?
The constituency was created since 1950 and has been Labour-held ever since.
Despite this Tristram Hunt had a majority of just 5,179.
Stoke-on-Trent Central is set to be axed by the 2020 general election, and parcelled up between neighbouring seats held by fellow MPs Ruth Smeeth and Rob Flello.
