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| Campaigning in Norwich nears end | Campaigning in Norwich nears end |
| (2 days later) | |
| Campaigners are out in force in Norwich North as they make their final push to win votes in Thursday's by-election. | Campaigners are out in force in Norwich North as they make their final push to win votes in Thursday's by-election. |
| It is the first Parliamentary contest since the MPs' expenses scandal broke - the episode which led to the sitting Labour MP Ian Gibson deciding to quit. | It is the first Parliamentary contest since the MPs' expenses scandal broke - the episode which led to the sitting Labour MP Ian Gibson deciding to quit. |
| He had held the seat since 1997. Before that it was held by the Conservatives. Labour is defending a 5,459 majority. | He had held the seat since 1997. Before that it was held by the Conservatives. Labour is defending a 5,459 majority. |
| David Cameron hopes to win the seat back for the Tories, less than a year away from the next general election. | David Cameron hopes to win the seat back for the Tories, less than a year away from the next general election. |
| The Tory leader has visited the constituency five times in the last few weeks as he tries to drum up support for his candidate, Chloe Smith. Shadow chancellor George Osborne visited on Wednesday. | The Tory leader has visited the constituency five times in the last few weeks as he tries to drum up support for his candidate, Chloe Smith. Shadow chancellor George Osborne visited on Wednesday. |
| By Ben Wright in Norwich North With the general election less than a year away and a Labour majority that's vulnerable this contest had the potential to be a classic. But Norwich isn't exactly gripped with election fever. The parties are busy making their pitches which all have one thing in common - lavishing praise on the outgoing Labour MP. This is is the first by-election brought about by the expenses scandal. But many voters express admiration for the outgoing Ian Gibson rather than anger. Mr Gibson is not standing as an independent and has gone to ground. With a majority of 5,500, Labour's new 28-year-old candidate had a tough fight on his hands even before he was felled by swine flu. His 27 year old Conservative opponent made sure to send him a get well card but the Tories are quietly confident of snatching the seat. The Lib Dems and the Greens - who are the main opposition on the council here - are also fighting hard. But this is an odd contest that few here seem to have wanted. | By Ben Wright in Norwich North With the general election less than a year away and a Labour majority that's vulnerable this contest had the potential to be a classic. But Norwich isn't exactly gripped with election fever. The parties are busy making their pitches which all have one thing in common - lavishing praise on the outgoing Labour MP. This is is the first by-election brought about by the expenses scandal. But many voters express admiration for the outgoing Ian Gibson rather than anger. Mr Gibson is not standing as an independent and has gone to ground. With a majority of 5,500, Labour's new 28-year-old candidate had a tough fight on his hands even before he was felled by swine flu. His 27 year old Conservative opponent made sure to send him a get well card but the Tories are quietly confident of snatching the seat. The Lib Dems and the Greens - who are the main opposition on the council here - are also fighting hard. But this is an odd contest that few here seem to have wanted. |
| Meanwhile Labour's candidate Chris Ostrowski's campaigning plans took a hit on Tuesday when it was announced he was being treated for suspected swine flu. Health Secretary Andy Burnham was in the constituency on Wednesday, the latest in a line of cabinet ministers to make the journey to back his campaign. | Meanwhile Labour's candidate Chris Ostrowski's campaigning plans took a hit on Tuesday when it was announced he was being treated for suspected swine flu. Health Secretary Andy Burnham was in the constituency on Wednesday, the latest in a line of cabinet ministers to make the journey to back his campaign. |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has also been up to the constituency several times to support the Lib Dem candidate April Pond. | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has also been up to the constituency several times to support the Lib Dem candidate April Pond. |
| The Greens are also hoping to make an impact in the area with their candidate, Rupert Read. They have seven seats on the county council and are the main opposition group on the city council. | The Greens are also hoping to make an impact in the area with their candidate, Rupert Read. They have seven seats on the county council and are the main opposition group on the city council. |
| Glenn Tingle, the UKIP candidate and Robert West for the BNP will be hoping to gain from the backlash against mainstream parties resulting from the expenses revelations. | Glenn Tingle, the UKIP candidate and Robert West for the BNP will be hoping to gain from the backlash against mainstream parties resulting from the expenses revelations. |
| One of the independents standing, former ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray, is campaigning under the title "Put an honest man into Parliament". | One of the independents standing, former ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray, is campaigning under the title "Put an honest man into Parliament". |
| The remaining party candidates standing are Laud Howling, on behalf of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party, Thomas Burridge for The Libertarian Party and Anne Fryatt is representing the None of The Above Party. | |
| Peter Baggs and Bill Holden are also standing as independents. | Peter Baggs and Bill Holden are also standing as independents. |