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Tories eye up Blackpool as voters ponder switching sides

Voters in Blackpool say they're unsure who to vote for in the next election, with some tempted to go for a different party.

Nick Martin

People and politics correspondent

Saturday 28 September 2019 22:20, UK

Post-Brexit anxiety among Britons is said to be creating a surge in UK holidays
Image: Blackpool South could swing from Labour to the Conservatives in the next election
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Blackpool used to play host to party conferences. It was a place where politics was done. But those days are long gone.

It has been more than a decade since a major political party chose this town as a location in which to gather, eat, drink, debate and spend thousands of pounds.

Blackpool is a long way from London in more ways than one.

Life expectancy is falling, homelessness is three times the national average, there's high unemployment and the highest number of drug deaths of any English town.

The number of disadvantaged pupils in its schools is well above the national average too.

In June 2016, 67.5% of voters here opted to leave the EU.

But this week, as the Conservatives gather in Manchester, the party will have one eye on Blackpool South, a constituency which could swing to the Conservatives in a general election after being a Labour seat since 1997.

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Image: Some 67.5% of voters in Blackpool voted for Brexit
A man relaxes in a deck chair in the sun on the North Pier on the promenade on July 27, 2018 in Blackpool, England
Image: Tourism is key to Blackpool and there are thought to be around 1000 guest houses, B&B and hotels

In 2015, UKIP took more than 17% of the vote in Blackpool South, but lost nearly all of that in 2017.

Those votes were picked up by the Conservatives and Labour. They are the votes that the Conservatives hope to win more of in an election. They need just a 4% swing to seize the seat.

Blackpool South is a marginal seat and voters seem unsure who to vote for.

Syrus Ainsworth is having coffee with his mother, Mina, in the Heritage coffee shop in the centre of town.

"I'm not sure who I would vote for. I don't trust Corbyn and that's why I probably wouldn't vote Labour. So I guess Conservative will get my vote. But I'm uneasy about it."

Blackpool Tower has been evacuated following reports of a fire.
Image: Blackpool has lost out in hosting political conferences in recent years

Mina Eastwood, Syrus's mothers, agrees: "I am usually a Labour voter but I don't trust Jeremy Corbyn either.

"For the first time in my life I'm looking at the Conservatives. You have to ask yourself who is best placed to deliver Brexit and I think that has to be Boris Johnson."

Sue Flint, a life-long Labour voter, is unhappy with politics and politicians but not enough to make drastic changes to her political habits.

"I think Jeremy Corbyn is the man to lead the country. He is compassionate and cares and wants to undo some of the damaging policies of the Conservatives. I could never vote Conservative."

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Tourism is of course a key industry in Blackpool. There are thought to be around 1000 guest houses, B&B and hotels and Claire Smith owns two of them.

"I usually vote Conservative but I have no idea who I would vote for.

"I am unhappy with all political parties to be honest. It is possible that for the first time I might vote Liberal Democrat. I just don't know.

"Business is tough. it has been a hard season and that's because guests are very nervous about the political situation and anything that causes nervousness affects business."

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