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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Lib Dem Burt: coalition snub would be 'cowardly'

LIBERAL Democrat Solihull MP Lorely Burt has defended her party’s coalition with the Conservatives after a backlash from some party supporters.

The MP told The Silhillian that the Parliamentary deal offered a stable Government and the prospect of electoral reform for the Lib Dems’ coveted proportional representation system.

Some Lib Dems are unhappy about the coalition and The Guardian today reports the MP has received hundreds of angry emails.

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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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Council future uncertain as Tories lose seats

THE future of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is uncertain this afternoon after the ruling Conservatives lost the majority of seats at local elections.

A vote for of a third of all seats saw the Liberal Democrats gain one and Labour two, giving them 19 and seven seats respectively.

The Conservatives lost two – in Elmdon and Kinghurst and Fordbridge – giving the party 23 seats.

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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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Election results live

SOLIHULL Metropolitan Borough Council will be tweeting live results for two elections tonight – and you can see them as they come in below.

The authority will post results from the Solihull and Meriden constituencies for the Parliamentary election.

It will also post results of 17 seats on the authority, a third of all seats.

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.

Click here for the Mirror's story.

Candidates quizzed at hustings

THE Solihull News has reported on an election debate between the Solihull canidates.

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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View latest election leaflets

MORE election leaflets for Solihull and Meriden have been added to The Straight Choice website.
Click here for Solihull and here for Meriden.

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Meriden candidates write for The Silhillian

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

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Online general election survey

HOW are you going to vote in the General Election? The Birmingham Mail is holding an online survey to gauge voter priorities in the West Midlands.

Click here to take the survey. The Silhillian will bring you the results for Solihull and Meriden when available.

Click here for General Election news from The Silhillian.

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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Candidate's questions over flight ban

THE Government must provide a contingency plan to help passengers and firms hit by the aircraft lockdown over the UK, an election hopeful has said.

Liberal Democrat Lorely Burt spoke out as airspace remains closed because of dangers to flights from an erupting volcano in Iceland.

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Lib Dem Burt: we have risen to challenges

THE Liberal Democrats ‘pave the way for a fairer Britain’, the party’s Solihull MP has said.

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Labour hopeful: manifesto 'restores trust'

MERIDEN Labour candidate Ed Williams says the party’s manifesto pledges to “restore trust in politics”.

He said: “This is a serious and progressive Manifesto, offering a truly positive and inclusive view of the future, that builds on our achievements since 1997.”

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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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Labour candidate: we 'blunted' recession

THE recession was less severe because of the actions of the Labour Government, the party’s Meriden election hopeful has said.

Ed Williams pointed to the ‘Government’s commitment to investment’.

He said: “Along with the resilience of the British people, the impact of the recession has been blunted and shortened.

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