News
Local MPs set to gain bigger poll majorities
ALLour localMPswill be returned at the next general election with en- hanced majorities, according to new polling data. The respected independent Elec-
toral Calculus (EC) has crunched polls, analysis and trends to show some hefty increases in majorities for the Conservative members. The biggest beneficiary will be Tracey Crouch in Chatham and Aylesford, whose 11,455 majority could jump by more than 8%. Helen Whately in Faversham and
Mid Kent might enjoy a 4%uplift on her 16,652 majority while Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat could see a 3.6% increase on his 23,734 advantage. Maidstone andWeald MP Helen Grant’s majority of 10,709 might see a 1.1% rise in a national poll. Most political observers treat polling with some caution, not least after inaccurate predictions prior to the 2015 general election and theEU referendum last summer. But parties treat EC as a fair fore-
cast as a national poll of polls, al- though it does not take into account
Tracey Crouch 8% UP
Helen Whately 4% UP
locally contentious issues. Nor does it consider possible boundary changes, which could see Mrs Whately’s constituency swal- lowed up, or a snap general election. On paper at least, Mrs Grant’s po-
sition is comparatively more parlous than her neighbours, although a 10,000 plus majority might be a tall order to overturn. But a growing Ukip groundswell
and a strong Lib Dem candidate in the Oxford-educated Emily Fermor might make Mrs Grant feel nervous. As one Tory activist told Downs
Mail: “The Lib Dems think they can win it every time they stand in Maidstone and theWeald. They sent Peter Carroll, who is no slouch, to fight it twice and Jasper Gerard in
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TomTugendhat 3.6% UP
Helen Grant 1.1% UP
2015, but they lost all three.” The party campaigner did ac-
knowledge that Miss Fermor, who lives in Coxheath, might gain “some traction” in a localised contest. A Lib Dem source said: “On
paper, you wouldn’t give Emily a prayer but given the mess the gov- ernment is making of Brexit and some bad economic times ahead, a popular candidate might just do it.” EC predicts the Tories to win the general election with 364 seats (+33) and Labour to secure just 197 (-35). The Lib Dems would increase by a single seat and Ukip would retain its one MP. The prediction service used opin-
ion polls carried out in December 2016 from a sample of 6,719 people.
downsmail.co.uk Garage thefts
POLICE are investigating a spate of break-ins at garages and sheds across west Kent including Maid- stone, when bikes and other Christ- mas gifts have been stolen. Officers have reminded residents
to lock outbuildings after thefts of bicycles and gardening equipment. Ared and white Principia Ellipse bicycle and another bike were stolen after thieves broke a lock on a garage in Loose Road, Maidstone. Maidstone District Commander, Inspector Jody Gagan-Cook said: “Bicycles, power tools and garden- ing equipment are some of the most common targets but there are a number of steps residents can take to avoid falling prey to oppor- tunist thieves. “I would encourage residents to contact their PCSO to arrange for bikes to be security marked and to use strong locks on outbuildings.”
Arson arrest A 40-YEAR-OLD woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze at a bungalow in Col- legeAvenue, Maidstone. Kent Police said she had been
bailed until February 16. Firefighters were alerted just
after 8.30pm on Tuesday, Decem- ber 27, and the fire was put out with a hose reel jet.
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