Crewe by-election win is new Tory target
Tuesday, 06 May 2008 12:25
David Cameron knows Crewe is a "tall order" for the Tories
David Cameron says winning the Crewe by-election is his party's "top campaigning priority" for the next fortnight.
There are 15 days to go until the by-election on May 22nd, with Edward Timpson hoping to overturn Labour's 7,078 majority for the Conservatives.
Speaking at his monthly press conference this morning, Mr Cameron called on voters to send a "loud and clear" message to prime minister Gordon Brown in the by-election.
He intends to focus the campaign on the 10p starting rate for income tax, which was scrapped by Mr Brown's last Budget as chancellor in 2007.
"Gordon Brown is hurting the people of Crewe just as the cost of living is going up," Mr Cameron said.
"People in Crewe know that the more of them vote Conservative on May 22nd the clearer the message will be to Gordon Brown to help those who suffered from the tax con Budget."
The by-election was called after long-serving Crewe and Nantwich MP Gwyneth Dunwoody died last month aged 77.
Labour has chosen her daughter, 49-year-old Tamsin Dunwoody, to stand in her place. The Liberal Democrats are putting forward Elizabeth Shenton.
Mr Cameron's press conference was unsurprisingly upbeat after the party's strong showing in last week's local elections.
He said he hoped the Tories' performance "banishes forever the idea that Conservatives cannot win seats in northern England" and added: "I hope it will be at least a week before anyone says to me, 'the government's doing very badly – why aren't the Tories doing better?'"