Great day.  Many congratulations to Chloe Smith.  This was an absolutely thumping win for the Conservatives and a devastating loss for Labour.  Let’s celebrate today and remember that there is no room for complacency as we still have a lot to do to win the next general election.

Labour’s Ian Gibson must have a wry smile tonight, not that he will show it in public.  He was victimised by the Labour Party as there were far far worse MP’s caught up in hurricane that was MP’s expenses.  Many predict he would have won this seat had he stood as an Independent.  Something he may still do in the next election.  But Gordon Brown picked on Ian, showed his strong leadership….and the Constituents of Norwich North let Mr Brown know exactly what they thought.  A Labour Majority of 5,000 was turned into a Conservative Majority of 7,348.  That is a horrific stab wound into the heart of Labour.  Many Labour MP’s must be looking at their Majorities tonight and feeling scared, including Alastair Darling who would be rejected by his Constituents based on this result and a swing of 16.5%.  The chattering of Gordon Brown’s leadership will start again and reach a crescendo at the Labour Conference.

Norwich North by-election

 

Full congratulations must go the Conservatives over a strong campaign.  Yes Cameron went to Norwich 6 times and Shadow Cabinet members were frequent visitors, that is a sign of their hunger.  But also full marks from a Communications strategy.  I presume we must thank Andy Coulson for this.  The Conservatives chances in this election were magnificently downplayed throughout the whole campaign.  Conservatives consistently referred to it as a ‘tight’ election.  Today, again the messaging was ‘tight’….creating a sense of anticipation.  Closely before the result was called, sources were saying the Conservatives had won by 4-5,000.  When the actual result came through, because of underplaying the potential result, 7,300+ majority came across as meteoric and hence was seized on by journalists.  Masterful communication and PR strategy.

Chloe Smith with David Cameron: Norwich North by-election: Conservatives quietly confident despite low turn-out

Always fun listening to politicians give their election analysis.  Brown was obviously downbeat.  He was ‘disappointted’.  Yup, he knows the chattering has started again…’is this the man that can turn round this ship’, Labour’s activists will be saying across constituencies spanning the UK.  ‘What can he do to help us win?’.  All this whilst Alan Johnson no doubt smugly awaits his time and David Miliband does his maths and again decides to bottle a challenge.

I was most disappointed today with Harriet Harman.  She is a bitter woman and is the very definition of a smear politician.  She came onto news channels stating that Conservatives were being arrogant and that we behaved as if the election was in the bag!  Conservatives have in no way been smug or arrogant in any news channel interview broadcast today.  Chloe Smith was very humble in her acceptance address.  Harman was smearing and that is disgusting.  As Cameron said in his speech to activists that Labour had fought a despicable campaign, full of lies and smears, and the people had seen through it and punished them.  Brown needs to learn the British people hold dear to their hearts fair play…something Brown cannot comprehend.

We all know as Conservatives not to be complacent.  There is lots to do.  Labour still have another 9 – 10 months to swing round their poll deficit and smear…and smear….and smear.  Noone is under any illusions that they will DO ANYTHING to cling onto power.  Damien McBride may not be in Downing Street but his spirit lives large and campaign ideas are at one with Brown.  Labour’s chance to turn this round is next to impossible.  But ‘events, dear boy, events’!  We may see a new Labour Leader later this October or early next year and they, inevitably, would gain from a honeymoon bounce….as all new leaders do.  The economy, swine flu, the war in Afghanistan, the cleansing of politics, have all still to play their continued part in the run up to the next election…..and of course events none of us can predict.

Celebrate today, re-double our efforts tomorrow.

Congratulations Chloe…Britain’s youngest  MP at 27. 

Chloe Smith: Norwich by-election: Labour sources predict 'third place humiliation'

Cameron’s Reaction to Chloe’s victory:

[Chloe-Smith-the-Tory-cand-006[1].jpg]

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