THE Conservatives will win back Solihull at the General Election, a bookmakers has predicted.Ladbrokes says Tory candidate Maggie Throup has a 57 per cent chance of winning the seat as the election is finally called.
Liberal Democrat Lorely Burt won a shock victory at the 2005 poll, beating long-time Conservative MP John Taylor by just 279 seats with 20,896 votes.
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She has a 40 per cent chance of winning, according to Ladbrokes.
And the prediction says the Conservatives would have won at the last poll had boundary changes set to come into affect this year been in place.
Bickenhill and Blythe in this constituency will move into Solihull while Elmdon residents in Meriden will move into Solihull.
It gives the Tories 40 per cent of the vote and the Lib Dems 39 per cent. This cut the margin of victory to 134.
The Conservatives have pumped thousands into winning back the seat.
Mrs Throup said today: “This is the most important election for a generation. We can have five more years of Gordon Brown and this tired government, or we can change and reengergise our politcs through David Cameron and the Conservative Party.
“Everyone I speak with is ready for change. They see a government that has run out of ideas and a Prime Minister who has presided over one of the biggest booms and bust in history.
“Many people I meet are rooting for a Cameron government with fresh ideas and the determination to reduce the deficit, lower taxes and protect the NHS."
In a press release, she said the future of Solihull Hospital – which could lose maternity services – was a ‘key issue’.
Mrs Throup and supporters:
She said: “Local people want to know it will be safe with a future government – David Cameron has already categorically stated that the NHS is our number one priority.
“It is only by voting Conservative here in Solihull that we can have the change that this country really deserves.”
The bookmaker’s prediction, compiled by The Times newspaper, gives Labour, the UK Independence Party and the British National Party a one per cent chance of winning.
Mrs Burt today released the following video:
The Birmingham Post today carries a report on the battle.
In Meriden, sitting Conservative MP Caroline Spelman is given a 93 per cent chance of winning.
In a press release, Mrs Spelman said today: “I am overjoyed that at last Gordon Brown has gone to the Queen and called a General Election. This is the best thing he has ever done!
“Now the British people have the opportunity to pass judgment.
"They have had no say on this unelected Prime Minister who is responsible for wrecking the economy, selling off our gold at record lows, raiding pensions, giving us the highest youth unemployment on record and doubling the national debt.
“No wonder he bottled calling an election in the past with a record like that.
"After thirteen unlucky years of Labour, the time has come for the public to show Gordon Brown that he cannot get away with such a poor record.
"We need a Conservative Government led by David Cameron to restore Britain to prosperity.”
Labour’s Ed Williams has four per cent while Greens, Lib Dems and UKIP have one per cent.
Meanwhile, The Press Association says Solihull is a 'battleground seat' for the 'grey vote' given the high number of over 55s in the borough.
The Silhillian has launched an election page to bring you up to date with news from the poll and a vote for a third of seats on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.
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