‘We trusted GPS after Shipman, so we should trust Tories in Wakefield’
The Conservative candidate in the Wakefield by-election has said people should still vote for the scandal-hit Tories because “we still trust GPS” after Harold Shipman killed 250 people.
Nadeem Ahmed is running to replace Imran Ahmad Khan, the former Conservative MP who resigned and triggered a by-election last month after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Mr Khan was the first Tory MP to be elected for Wakefield since 1931, amid a wave of Conservative victories in Red Wall constituencies in Labour heartlands at the last general election.
Mr Ahmed, his prospective replacement, is a former teacher and councillor, and has attempted to distance himself from Mr Khan – claiming he was “one bad apple”.
Tory strategists now expect the seat to return to the Labour Party in next Thursday’s by-election vote, amid fears about the rising cost of living and anger over partygate and Mr Khan’s conviction for a sexual offence.
“It was the right thing to happen to him,” Mr Ahmed said. “He’s in prison, which is the right place. As a teacher, a father, and as a human being, what he did was wrong.
“He’s been convicted of that offence, and I cannot stand here and say that was right. It was absolutely disgusting.
And the people of Wakefield know that he was one bad apple.”
He added: “Harold Shipman committed suicide in Wakefield prison. He was a GP, he was a trusted professional, just like teachers and others.
“When they put a vaccine in our arms, we trust what they are putting in us. Have we stopped trusting GPS?
“No, we still trust GPS and we know that he was one bad apple in there.”
Shipman, who died in prison in 2004, was convicted of the murder of 15 of his patients.
A Tory loss in Wakefield would pile further pressure on Mr Johnson ahead of the next general election, and could suggest he is no longer popular with voters in Red Wall seats.
A national poll on Wednesday suggested that the Conservatives could lose their majority if a general election was held now, with 39 per cent of respondents reporting they planned to vote for Labour.
Redfield and Wilton, a pollster, said that 32 per cent of voters would choose the Tories, while 16 per cent would vote for the Liberal Democrats.
The Lib Dems are the main threat to the Conservatives in a second byelection in Tiverton and Honiton on June 23, which is taking place following the resignation of Neil Parish, the “porn MP” who was caught watching adult material in the House of Commons chamber.
The Telegraph revealed last month that Mr Parish had been reported to the Conservative whips after two female MPS saw him viewing adult material at work.