Labour and Lib Dems fight for second place in Southport

Labour and Lib Dems fight for second place in Southport.

Veteran Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: With polling experts and the bookies predicting a win in Southport on Thursday for Tory candidate Damien Moore, there’s a real fight now for second place.

Liberal Democrat Sue McGuire is desperate not to come third as it could spell the beginning of the end of her party’s political influence in the town.

However, Labour’s Liz Savage (pictured) is reaping the benefits of the current national surge in Labour support and says she is getting a much more positive response on the doorstep compared to the 2015 general election.

And that’s why this general election is the most interesting battle Southport has seen for many years. The days of a two-horse race between the Lib Dems and Tories appear to be over. Labour are on the march.

The predicted rise of the Lib Dems nationally has just not happened, with many voters pointing to the party’s enthusiasm to form a coalition with the Tories in 2010, plus the weak performance of leader Tim Farron during this campaign.

None of the candidates in Southport – apart perhaps from UKIP’s Terry Durrance – are well-known in the town so it is likely the majority of local voters will make their choice based on the national campaign. And Prime Minister Theresa May is still ahead in the polls – just.

As far as social media is concerned, it is Labour’s Liz Savage who has attracted the most support and enthusiasm, especially among young people. The big question is will they actually vote later this week?

However, as experience has revealed in recent years, we can’t trust the opinion polls to predict the actual result. But if you fancy a bet on the outcome in Southport, bookmakers Paddy Power are offering odds of 4/11 for the Tories, 15/8 for the Lib Dems, 33/1 for Labour and 300/1 for UKIP.

Whatever your view, don’t waste your vote on Thursday.

You can question all four candidates tonight (Monday) from 7.30pm at a public hustings in Lord Street’s Christ Church.

Southport has been a straight fight between the Liberals and Conservatives since the constituency was created in 1885. But now Labour scents victory in Thursday’s general election.