Back in January I predicted the outcome of the General Election, seat by seat. Since then, I have done more research and altered some of the predictions taking into account various issues including new updated constituency polls by Lord Ashcroft. Over the next ten days I will be revisiting each county and region giving my final predictions. I’d still welcome feedback, even at this late stage.
Seats: 6
Current Political Makeup: Con 4, Lab 2
Predicted Political Makeup after May 7: Con 3, Lab 3
Final Prediction: Unchanged
BEDFORDSHIRE
1. Bedford
2010 Result:
Conservative: 17546 (38.9%)
Labour: 16193 (35.9%)
Lib Dem: 8957 (19.9%)
BNP: 757 (1.7%)
Green: 393 (0.9%)
UKIP: 1136 (2.5%)
Independent: 120 (0.3%)
MAJORITY: 1353 (3%)
Sitting MP: Richard Fuller (Con)
Prediction: Narrow Labour gain
This seat was Labour during the Blair & Brown years and only narrowly went Tory last time. With a substantial LibDem vote to eat into, it’s difficult to see Labour failing to win this seat. If they do fail, it spells big trouble for Ed Miliband.
2. Luton North
2010 Result:
Conservative: 13672 (31.8%)
Labour: 21192 (49.3%)
Lib Dem: 4784 (11.1%)
BNP: 1316 (3.1%)
Green: 490 (1.1%)
UKIP: 1564 (3.6%)
MAJORITY: 7520 (17.5%)
Sitting MP: Kelvin Hopkins (Lab)
Prediction: Labour hold
This used to be a safe Tory seat until boundary changes made it a safe Labour seat. Kelvin Hopkins’ majority should increase as he takes a few thousand votes from the LibDems.
3. Luton South
2010 Result:
Conservative: 12396 (29.4%)
Labour: 14725 (34.9%)
Lib Dem: 9567 (22.7%)
BNP: 1299 (3.1%)
Green: 366 (0.9%)
UKIP: 975 (2.3%)
Independent: 1872 (4.4%)
Others: 1016 (2.4%)
MAJORITY: 2329 (5.5%)
Sitting MP: Gavin Shuker (Lab)
Prediction: Labour hold
Esther Rantzen stood here last time and there are around 4,000 votes from her and other independents going begging. The Tories might think they are in with a chance of taking this, but the demographics of the seat count against them. Shuker has bedded himself in and it’s not likely he’ll be shifted.
4. Mid Bedfordshire
2010 Result:
Conservative: 28815 (52.5%)
Labour: 8108 (14.8%)
Lib Dem: 13663 (24.9%)
Green: 773 (1.4%)
UKIP: 2826 (5.1%)
English Dem: 712 (1.3%)
MAJORITY: 15152 (27.6%)
Sitting MP: Nadine Dorries (Con)
Prediction: Increased Conservative majority
A split opposition vote should mean a bigger majority for Nadine.
5. North East Bedfordshire
2010 Result:
Conservative: 30989 (55.8%)
Labour: 8957 (16.1%)
Lib Dem: 12047 (21.7%)
BNP: 1265 (2.3%)
UKIP: 2294 (4.1%)
MAJORITY: 18942 (34.1%)
Sitting MP: Alistair Burt (Con)
Prediction: Increased Conservative majority
Ditto Nadine.
6. South West Bedfordshire
2010 Result:
Conservative: 26815 (52.8%)
Labour: 9948 (19.6%)
Lib Dem: 10166 (20%)
BNP: 1703 (3.4%)
UKIP: 2142 (4.2%)
MAJORITY: 16649 (32.8%)
Sitting MP: Andrew Selous (Con)
Prediction: Definite Conservative hold
Safe seat. End of.
To see the complete list of predictions click HERE