Tories select 2015 election candidate

JOURNALIST and author Julian Knight has been selected as the man Conservatives want to seize back Solihull at the next General Election.

                

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Conservatives bid to snatch back council

THE Conservatives will bid to snatch back from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council from a Liberal Democrat and Labour coalition at this week’s election.

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Lib Dem election candidate defects to Labour

THE Liberal Democrats’ 2010 general election candidate for Meriden has defected to Labour, claiming his old party has ‘sold out’.

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Solihull MPs hail budget

THE controversial rise in VAT is ‘necessary’ said Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs who represent the Solihull area.

Tory Caroline Spelman and Lib Dem Lorely Burt backed Tuesday’s budget, which included a 2.5 per cent hike in VAT to 20 per cent.

Mrs Spelman, MP for Meriden, above, said: “This was always going to be an austerity Budget – we have never pretended otherwise.

“The rise in VAT is unavoidable, given the state of the nation’s finances bequeathed to us by Labour, but there are many welcome measures which will benefit the whole country.”

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MP hails end to 'garden grabbing'

SOLIHULL was one of the most affected areas for ‘garden grabbing’ MP Caroline Spelman has said as she hailed Conservative plans aimed at ending such developments.

The coalition Government has moved to stop gardens being classed as previously used brownfield sites by local councils, which decide whether developments can go ahead.

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MP: new council must back Green Belt

MERIDEN Conservative MP Caroline Spelman has called on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s new Lib-Lab administration commit to protecting the Green Belt.

In a press release, she said: “The change of the ruling group on Solihull Council from Conservative to a Labour/ Liberal Democrat coalition, does give me some cause for concern.

“Will the new council be as keen as the Conservatives are to protect the Green Belt?

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Council set for Lib-Lab coalition

THE Liberal Democrats and Labour are set to run Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council – to the fury of the Conservative administration.

The two are to looking to pool their 26 councillors, the minimum needed for a majority administration after the Tories lost seats at an election this month.

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MP 'hopeful' for maternity with Tory Government

MERIDEN MP and cabinet minister Caroline Spelman says she is ‘more hopeful’ for under-threat maternity services now the Conservatives are in power.

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Questions over MP's lobbying

THE Guardian today reports on concerns about the lobbying activities of Caroline Spelman now she has been appointed environment minister.

Tories await 'kingmaker' Lib Dems over council future

THE balance of power at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is still uncertain this afternoon – with ‘kingmaker’ Liberal Democrats yet to decide whether they are to back another party for a coalition.

The Conservative Party lost its majority at local elections last Thursday – but say they have yet to have ‘substantial’ discussions with the Lib Dems or Labour.

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MP lands cabinet post

MERIDEN MP Caroline Spelman has landed a top Government job.

The Conservative has been appointed to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs after the Tories formed a Government with the Liberal Democrats.

The MP – whose seat includes Knowle and Dorridge – was previously local Government spokesman in the shadow cabinet.

Yet there was controversy today over the number of women in the cabinet, three. The Times said this was 'shaming'.

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Tories look to run council with Lib Dems

THE Conservatives are looking to form a join with The Liberal Democrats to run Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, the Tory group leader said last night.

There is presently no overall control after the Tories lost seats in last Thursday’s local elections of a third of all seats.

Conservative leader Cllr Ken Meeson yesterday met Lib Dem leader Cllr Ian Hedley – and he hoped the two would find a way of working together.

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Defeated Tory: we can hold our heads high

A CONSERVATIVE who narrowly failed to oust Solihull’s Liberal Democrat MP has said supporters can ‘hold our heads highs’.

Maggie Throup spoke after she lost the poll to Lorely Burt by 175 votes.

She was selected shortly after the Tories lost the seat by 279 votes in a shock defeat in 2005.

Ms Throup ran a high-profile, five-year campaign including opposition to moves to downgrade maternity services at Solihull Hospital.

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Lib Dems narrowly keep Solihull

THE Liberal Democrats have narrowly retained Solihull as the Conservatives hold safe Meriden in the General Election.

Lib Dem Lorely Burt beat Tory Maggie Throup by just 175 votes with 23,635. She won the 2005 poll by 279 votes.

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Labour hopeful's tactical voting plea

A LABOUR election hopeful has urged Liberal Democrats to back him if they want to defeat the Conservatives in Meriden.

Ed Williams spoke after a furore over Labour calls for backing from Lib Dems.

Yesterday, The Daily Mirror newspaper called for Labour to back the Lib Dems in Solihull where incumbent Lib Dem Lorely Burt is defending a 279 majority.

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Mirror urges Solihull residents to vote Lib Dem

LABOUR voters in Solihull are urged to vote Liberal Democrat on the front of today's Daily Mirror in a bid to defeat the Conservatives.

The Labour-supporting newspaper urges voters to back Lib Dem Lorely Burt, who narrowly defeated the Tories in 2005 by just 279 votes.

It is a considered a key marginal and has seen a five-year campaign by Tory candidate Maggie Throup.

The front page features the headline HOW TO STOP HIM with a red cross through the face of a photograph of Conservative leader David Cameron.

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Solihull candidates write for The Silhillian

CANDIDATES in the Solihull constituency today write exclusively for The Silhillian on why they want your vote on May 6.

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Tory Solihull win 'vulnerable' says Telegraph

THE Daily Telegraph has said the Conservatives are ‘vulnerable’ in their bid to win back Solihull.
The Tory newspaper spoke out as Liberal Democrat Lorely Burt fights to retain the seat she won in a shock win from the Conservatives in 2005.

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Ex-Tory's election bid for new party

A FORMER Conservative campaign director is to stand in Solihull for a newly formed political party at the General Election.

Solihull and Meriden Residents Association has announced that Neill Watts will be a candidate at the May 6 poll.

He was previously campaign director and agent for Solihull Conservative Association.

It comes after it announced MEP Nikki Sinclaire will contest Meriden and plans to fight 15 out of 17 council seats on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

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Lib Dem boss: we can win again

A LIBERAL Democrat chief said he was confident Lorely Burt would retain Solihull as candidates being their campaigns for the marginal seat.

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