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| Brexit and boundary changes: why there are no safe seats for Labour in Redcar | Brexit and boundary changes: why there are no safe seats for Labour in Redcar |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Janice Bailey, 72, is tending to her neat front garden when a Labour councillor arrives. “Urgh,” she groaned, unable to hide her dismay. Bailey, a retired healthcare assistant, normally votes Labour but is weary with the endless Brexit saga. “To me, it’s a big flipping con. I thought it would be sorted by now.” | Janice Bailey, 72, is tending to her neat front garden when a Labour councillor arrives. “Urgh,” she groaned, unable to hide her dismay. Bailey, a retired healthcare assistant, normally votes Labour but is weary with the endless Brexit saga. “To me, it’s a big flipping con. I thought it would be sorted by now.” |
| Sue Jeffrey, the energetic leader of Redcar and Cleveland borough council, tries gamely to steer the conversation away from the B-word but Bailey is fed up. “I just haven’t got confidence any more,” she said. | Sue Jeffrey, the energetic leader of Redcar and Cleveland borough council, tries gamely to steer the conversation away from the B-word but Bailey is fed up. “I just haven’t got confidence any more,” she said. |
| Brexit might not have topped the news agenda over Easter, but there is no doubt it has continued to dominate the debate on doorsteps across this corner of north-east England. | Brexit might not have topped the news agenda over Easter, but there is no doubt it has continued to dominate the debate on doorsteps across this corner of north-east England. |
| “When things were at their height a couple of weeks ago, you just couldn’t talk to anybody without that being the first thing they said,” said Jeffrey. “Most often you’re met with ‘I’m not voting for any of you’ because of the disillusionment in politicians – nationally, generally. People just think they’ve been betrayed.” | “When things were at their height a couple of weeks ago, you just couldn’t talk to anybody without that being the first thing they said,” said Jeffrey. “Most often you’re met with ‘I’m not voting for any of you’ because of the disillusionment in politicians – nationally, generally. People just think they’ve been betrayed.” |
| Labour is battling to save its precarious grip on power at the council. It leads a minority administration of 28 seats against an opposition of 31 councillors, made up of 11 Conservatives, 11 Liberal Democrats and nine independents. All the seats are up for grabs, each one potentially shifting the balance of power. | Labour is battling to save its precarious grip on power at the council. It leads a minority administration of 28 seats against an opposition of 31 councillors, made up of 11 Conservatives, 11 Liberal Democrats and nine independents. All the seats are up for grabs, each one potentially shifting the balance of power. |
| In an election dominated by Brexit, Labour is on shaky ground. The area voted a hefty 66% to leave the EU, against the wishes of the Redcar MP, Anna Turley, a vocal supporter of a second referendum. There have been protests outside Turley’s constituency office and the word “OUT!” was daubed on its steel shutters this month. | In an election dominated by Brexit, Labour is on shaky ground. The area voted a hefty 66% to leave the EU, against the wishes of the Redcar MP, Anna Turley, a vocal supporter of a second referendum. There have been protests outside Turley’s constituency office and the word “OUT!” was daubed on its steel shutters this month. |
| More than 1,400 people have joined a #TurleyOut group on Facebook set up by disgruntled former Labour councillors, including an ex-ceremonial mayor of Redcar and Cleveland. The group has distributed more than 2,000 anti-Turley leaflets in recent weeks, accusing the MP of betraying the area’s wishes, while its members have drawn up a tactical voting plan aimed at ousting Labour from all of its council seats. | More than 1,400 people have joined a #TurleyOut group on Facebook set up by disgruntled former Labour councillors, including an ex-ceremonial mayor of Redcar and Cleveland. The group has distributed more than 2,000 anti-Turley leaflets in recent weeks, accusing the MP of betraying the area’s wishes, while its members have drawn up a tactical voting plan aimed at ousting Labour from all of its council seats. |
| The online campaign has been “really toxic,” said Turley, adding that out on the doorstep the reception is less hostile. The Kent-born MP, who was re-elected with a marginally smaller majority in 2017, has been out canvassing with Labour activists and her picture appears on campaign literature. | The online campaign has been “really toxic,” said Turley, adding that out on the doorstep the reception is less hostile. The Kent-born MP, who was re-elected with a marginally smaller majority in 2017, has been out canvassing with Labour activists and her picture appears on campaign literature. |
| The focus on Brexit means it is “not going to be an easy election”, Turley admits, but insists she has not seen a significant shift in support: “Brexit is an issue but it’s mostly coming up from people who aren’t Labour supporters anyway.” | The focus on Brexit means it is “not going to be an easy election”, Turley admits, but insists she has not seen a significant shift in support: “Brexit is an issue but it’s mostly coming up from people who aren’t Labour supporters anyway.” |
| Labour is fighting on several fronts across the 94-sq mile borough, a diverse mix of coastal resorts, industrial estates, market towns and rural villages bordering the North York Moors. | |
| 'This is not about Brexit': Labour faces credibility test in Stoke | 'This is not about Brexit': Labour faces credibility test in Stoke |
| In east Cleveland, where voters complain of missing out on investment focused on Redcar, the Conservatives are hopeful of making gains. In 2017, the Tory MP Simon Clarke ended Labour’s 20-year grip on Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and is popular locally. | In east Cleveland, where voters complain of missing out on investment focused on Redcar, the Conservatives are hopeful of making gains. In 2017, the Tory MP Simon Clarke ended Labour’s 20-year grip on Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and is popular locally. |
| Steve Turner, a Tory councillor who also works in Clarke’s constituency office, said the party had been expecting to double its number of council seats to more than 20, taking it to potential coalition territory, until Theresa May failed to secure a Brexit deal. “While I don’t think we will be hit as badly as some areas, we have to roll back on our expectations a bit,” he said. “Some people just won’t vote and some are so disgusted they will vote independent.” | Steve Turner, a Tory councillor who also works in Clarke’s constituency office, said the party had been expecting to double its number of council seats to more than 20, taking it to potential coalition territory, until Theresa May failed to secure a Brexit deal. “While I don’t think we will be hit as badly as some areas, we have to roll back on our expectations a bit,” he said. “Some people just won’t vote and some are so disgusted they will vote independent.” |
| Turner, who ran the Vote Leave campaign in the north-east, admits “nobody likes” May but said that Jeremy Corbyn was also a huge turnoff for traditional Labour voters locally, many of whom are ex-military. “Nobody liking Theresa May is a massive problem if you’re in Kent but in the north-east no one has ever liked the Tories,” he said. | Turner, who ran the Vote Leave campaign in the north-east, admits “nobody likes” May but said that Jeremy Corbyn was also a huge turnoff for traditional Labour voters locally, many of whom are ex-military. “Nobody liking Theresa May is a massive problem if you’re in Kent but in the north-east no one has ever liked the Tories,” he said. |
| The Lib Dems – who were elected to parliament with Ian Swales in Redcar in 2010 before he stepped down and Labour retook the seat in 2015 – believe they can add four or five council seats on the back of a Labour-Tory backlash. Boundary changes have meant a newly-created ward which they are targeting. The town of Skelton was a three-councillor ward, with Labour holding two of the seats. It is now being split into two wards, each with two councillors, and some think the move will be at the expense of the Labour party. | |
| “I don’t think there’s a safe seat in Redcar and Cleveland now, including my seat,” said Neil Baldwin, who was elected for Labour in 2015 but is standing this time as an independent. “Even removing the Brexit argument Labour will have struggled, but I think the boundary changes and the Brexit mess is just going to scupper anything. But who knows?” | “I don’t think there’s a safe seat in Redcar and Cleveland now, including my seat,” said Neil Baldwin, who was elected for Labour in 2015 but is standing this time as an independent. “Even removing the Brexit argument Labour will have struggled, but I think the boundary changes and the Brexit mess is just going to scupper anything. But who knows?” |
| Back in Normanby, a quiet neighbourhood of 1970s homes on the outskirts of Redcar, a 28-year-old man opens his door. “I probably won’t vote,” he tells Jeffrey. “Watching everything that’s going on, none of them are capable of doing anything.” | Back in Normanby, a quiet neighbourhood of 1970s homes on the outskirts of Redcar, a 28-year-old man opens his door. “I probably won’t vote,” he tells Jeffrey. “Watching everything that’s going on, none of them are capable of doing anything.” |
| The former naval officer is against a second referendum, to which Jeffrey replies that Labour is “not talking about a second referendum” but is focused on a Brexit that works for local people. He appears unconvinced as he closes the door, without a discussion of local issues. “That’s probably it, in a nutshell,” says Jeffrey. | The former naval officer is against a second referendum, to which Jeffrey replies that Labour is “not talking about a second referendum” but is focused on a Brexit that works for local people. He appears unconvinced as he closes the door, without a discussion of local issues. “That’s probably it, in a nutshell,” says Jeffrey. |
| Redcar and Cleveland at a glance | Redcar and Cleveland at a glance |
| Labour runs the council as a minority administration but the precarious balance of power makes it very vulnerable. | Labour runs the council as a minority administration but the precarious balance of power makes it very vulnerable. |
| As things stand, Labour is the biggest party with 28 councillors. There are 31 opposition seats, made up of 11 Conservatives, 11 Lib Dems and nine independents. All seats are up for grabs. | As things stand, Labour is the biggest party with 28 councillors. There are 31 opposition seats, made up of 11 Conservatives, 11 Lib Dems and nine independents. All seats are up for grabs. |
| It recorded the second-highest leave vote in the north-east of England, with a 66.2% vote for Brexit. | It recorded the second-highest leave vote in the north-east of England, with a 66.2% vote for Brexit. |
| Its local MPs could not be more divided on Brexit. Labour’s Anna Turley (Redcar) backed remain and is a vocal supporter of a second referendum. Tory Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) is a member of the party’s hard-Brexit European Research Group and has been critical of Theresa May’s deal. | Its local MPs could not be more divided on Brexit. Labour’s Anna Turley (Redcar) backed remain and is a vocal supporter of a second referendum. Tory Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) is a member of the party’s hard-Brexit European Research Group and has been critical of Theresa May’s deal. |
| Labour runs the council as a minority administration but the precarious balance of power makes it very vulnerable. | Labour runs the council as a minority administration but the precarious balance of power makes it very vulnerable. |
| As things stand, Labour is the biggest party with 28 councillors. There are 31 opposition seats, made up of 11 Conservatives, 11 Lib Dems and nine independents. All seats are up for grabs. | As things stand, Labour is the biggest party with 28 councillors. There are 31 opposition seats, made up of 11 Conservatives, 11 Lib Dems and nine independents. All seats are up for grabs. |
| It recorded the second-highest leave vote in the north-east of England, with a 66.2% vote for Brexit. | It recorded the second-highest leave vote in the north-east of England, with a 66.2% vote for Brexit. |
| Its local MPs could not be more divided on Brexit. Labour’s Anna Turley (Redcar) backed remain and is a vocal supporter of a second referendum. Tory Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) is a member of the party’s hard-Brexit European Research Group and has been critical of Theresa May’s deal. | Its local MPs could not be more divided on Brexit. Labour’s Anna Turley (Redcar) backed remain and is a vocal supporter of a second referendum. Tory Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) is a member of the party’s hard-Brexit European Research Group and has been critical of Theresa May’s deal. |
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