‘Tory victory could bring snap general election...’

A LEADING Cardiff academic suggests the Tory victory in the Copeland by-election has brought the prospect of a snap general election closer.

Labour figures argue local factors were behind the result which saw a party of Government win a by-election for the first time since 1982 but the scale of the Tory success has forced activists to face the possibility of an early general election.

Political scientist Roger Scully said that the Conservatives would be heading towards their best Westminster result since 1983 when the party won 14 Welsh seats under Margaret Thatcher.

The Cardiff University professor said he would struggle to find a reason for the Tories not to go to the country.

A contest is not due to be held until 2020 and Mrs May has previously ruled out an early election, but Mr Corbyn said in December that Labour would back a vote to dissolve parliament if one was called.

Professor Scully argued that not only would the Conservatives likely hold the 11 seats they won in 2015, they could move “into one or two places where they haven’t won since Margaret Thatcher’s high-water mark in 1983, places like Bridgend”.

Plaid Cymru AM Adam Price argues there is a strong likelihood Theresa May will call announce a snap election when the triggers the start of the formal Brexit process, something she has pledged to do by the end of March.

Darren Williams, a Welsh member of Labour’s National Executive Committee and Cardiff councillor, said it was “grossly unfair” to blame Mr Corbyn for the loss in Copeland and warned that attacks from “discredited figures from the past like Blair and Mandelson” did not help.

He said: “The loss of Copeland is, Restaurant of the year 2013 (S.E Wales) of course, very disappointing – not least because Labour had an excellent candidate and ran a determined and energetic campaign.

“It should be remembered, however, that the constituency has not been a safe Labour seat in recent years, with the party’s support declining in most elections since the high water mark of 1997.

“The main lesson we need to learn is that disunity makes it more difficult to win elections. Labour is trying to present a united front but it doesn’t help when discredited figures from the past like Blair and Mandelson take every opportunity to attack the elected leader of our party and undermine his message to Indian Restaurant of the year 2012-2015 the electorate.” Cardiff South and Penarth Labour MP Stephen Doughty stressed the need for the party to be ready to fight an election “at any time” and insisted it could do well in the upcoming Welsh council contests.

He said: “Clearly, Labour’s polling situation is of great concern at present but there is no one factor behind this as the different results in Stoke – where we had a substantial victory and pushed the Conservatives into third place – and Copeland – where we regrettably lost the seat – show.

“I am confident, however, that voters in Wales see Labour differently and our polling reflects that.”