Candidates hit the streets over the weekend as the general election campaign kicked off.
Former Conservative trade minister Lord Francis Maude joined the Hampstead and Kilburn Conservatives in Hampstead High Street on Saturday. The visit is a clear signal that Tulip Siddiq’s vulnerable Labour seat is a key Tory target.
The Hampstead and Kilburn Conservatives have yet to put forward a candidate but Camden councillors Claire-Louise Leyland and Siobhan Baillie are said to be on the shortlist along with other names.
The selection will take place at 9pm on Tuesday evening at Hampstead Synagogue, in Dennington Park Road.
Members of the branch unveiled their election campaign literature which focuses on Labour rival Tulip Siddiq’s backing for Jeremy Corbyn for leader in 2015 and her accepting a shadow cabinet education job.
Although In January she resigned from the frontbench over Corbyn’s three-line whip over the article 50 vote after 75 per cent of her constituents voted to remain in the EU.
Meanwhile Tulip was out with Holborn and St Pancras colleague Sir Keir Starmer and Camden Labour members campaigning in Hampstead.
She rubbished the Tory stragegy saying: “The Tories have nothing to offer local people, and so have launched their campaign on wholly negative terms. “Since being elected in 2015, I have put local people first at every opportunity and they are running scared.
“The election in Hampstead and Kilburn is a clear choice between my record of putting local people first, and a Conservative candidate who will have to vote for Theresa May’s hard Brexit.
“This will be a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives, and a vote for any other party risks losing a strong, local, pro-European voice in Parliament.”
“If re-elected, I will also continue the campaign against cuts to local schools and for a better future for our National Health Service.
Our first week of campaigning has been a huge success, and I look forward to speaking with thousands of local residents in the weeks ahead, urging them to put their trust in me once again .”
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir also joined Camden Labour councillors Georgia Gould and Sally Gimson in the Gospel Oak ward which is facing a by-election on May 4.
Labour’s by-election hopeful Marcus Boyland was out in the streets with them.
Camden Liberal Democrats Stephen Crosher, for Holborn and St Pancras and Kirsty Allan for Hampstead and Kilburn were also out fighting hard in Gospel Oak and West Hampstead.
Mr Crosher tweeted: “We have been out in Gospel Oak this morning. 3 people shouted out we’re voting for you. Very encouraging. Labour vote weakening.”
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