The Bradley Stoke Journal

Over 130 sixth form students at Patchway Community College took local politicians to task on Friday (12th February) over issues facing the country in the next General Election.

In a tutorial session earlier in the week students had discussed key issues of particular interest to them and prepared some questions that were put forward to prospective parliamentary candidates from the three main political parties.

Taking part in the session were (pictured L-R, centre of photo): Jack Lopresti (Conservative), Ian Boulton (Labour) and Peter Tyzack (Liberal Democrat) – all prospective candidates for the new Filton and Bradley Stoke parliamentary constituency.

Questions from the students were very diverse, including university and tuition fees, the health system, Afghanistan, and immigration.

Afterwards, the students were divided at random into five groups to represent each of five political parties. They carried out further research on the web so they could create a campaign and select student candidates in preparation for a mock election in the afternoon.

Head of Sixth Form Ian Trevarthen said:

“This day represented a superb opportunity to raise our students’ awareness of political issues at both local and national level.”

“The students were full of enthusiasm throughout the day, and welcomed the chance to hear first-hand answers to their questions.”

“We were very impressed with the student party leaders who delivered confident and well-informed presentations to their peers.”

Winner of the mock election was Lewis Gregor, aged 18, representing the Conservative Party, who received 30% of the votes cast.

Related links:

• Filton and Bradley Stoke – General Election 2010 (The Journal)
• Schools serving Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

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Bradley Stoke is likely to represented by a Conservative MP after this year’s General Election if odds recently published by Ladbrokes prove accurate.

The bookmaker has installed the Conservative candidate for the new parliamentary constituency of Filton and Bradley Stoke as the 1/6 favourite.

The Liberal Democrats are second in the betting at 6/1, followed by Labour at 10/1.

Bradley Stoke is currently covered by the two parliamentary constituencies of Bristol North West, represented by Doug Naysmith (Labour Co-operative), and Northavon, represented by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat).

Boundary changes which come into effect at the General Election put the whole of the town in the new constituency of Filton and Bradley Stoke, which also includes Almondsbury, Downend, Patchway, Pilning, Severn Beach, Staple Hill, Stoke Gifford and Winterbourne.

The prospective candidates of the three main parties are:

• Ian Boulton (Labour)
• Jack Lopresti (Conservative)
• Peter Tyzack (Liberal Democrat)

Related links:

• Filton and Bradley Stoke – General Election 2010 (The Journal)
• Constituency Betting Odds (Ladbrokes)

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South Gloucestershire councillor Peter Tyzack has been chosen as the Liberal Democrat’s candidate for the new Filton and Bradley Stoke (FABS) parliamentary constituency at next year’s general election.

Cllr Tyzack becomes the third Liberal Democrat to be nominated to fight the seat after the resignations of two previous candidates.

Emma Bone quit “for family reasons” in 2008, while John Kiely stepped down earlier this year saying that he need to give priority to his work on Bristol City Council.

Cllr Tyzack, who represents Pilning and Severn Beach on the district council, has stood for parliament on two previous occasions.

In 1997 he fought the Bristol East seat, where he finished in third place with 14.8% of the vote. More recently, he contested the Bristol North West seat in 2001, finishing with 15.9% of the vote behind runaway winner Doug Naysmith.

In a press release issued by Filton and Bradley Stoke Liberal Democrats, Cllr Tyzack says:

“I am honoured to have been chosen by the Party to represent the people in this new constituency for the next general election. I would like to say thank you for the support that I have already received and the further encouragement since my selection especially from Steve Webb MP.”

“What I would like to do is to offer a real alternative for the people of this new constituency. With just over five months left to run to the general election, FABS is a rare opportunity for us. Local by-election results across the country show a significant move towards the Liberal Democrats, so we should be optimistic.”

Cllr Tyzack has served on South Gloucestershire Council and the previous Northavon District Council since 1994. As a qualified teacher he taught at three Bristol secondary schools before leaving the profession to set up an independent property business and also a small building company.

The new Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency is formed exclusively of wards from the district of South Gloucestershire. The wards that it incorporates previously belonged to the Bristol North West, Northavon and Kingswood constituencies.

Independent website ukpollingreport classifies Filton and Bradley Stoke as a marginal seat but predicts that it will be won by the Conservatives with 35.7% of the vote, followed by Labour on 32.8% and the Liberal Democrats on 27.2%.

Related link:

• Filton and Bradley Stoke – General Election 2010 (The Journal)

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Local Liberal Democrats have suffered a setback in their campaign to win the parliamentary seat of Filton and Bradley Stoke (FABS) at the next general election with the news that their prospective candidate has resigned.

John Kiely was selected in April 2008 as the party’s prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) for the newly created FABS constituency. He wasted little time in getting involved in local issues, including the dispute between Northavon Bowls Club and Bradley Stoke Town Council (BSTC).

Mr Kiely attended the Special Meeting of BSTC held on 8th May 2008 to discuss the bowls club dispute and later described the Conservative-led Town Council as “the most unhelpful in England”.

He also filed an official complaint with the Town Council’s external auditor about the way the bowls dispute had been handled.

Prior to being selected to fight the parliamentary constituency, Mr Kiely served on Bristol City Council for many years, but he lost his seat in 2007.

In a surprising move, Mr Kiely stood for the Easton seat on Bristol City Council in June 2009 and was duly elected. Many questioned the rationale of rejoining the Council instead of focusing all his efforts on winning the Westminster seat.

Bradley Stoke Lib Dem Councillor Jon Williams told The Journal:

“This is obviously a blow for the local party and local executive will be making plans to appoint a new PPC as soon as possible.”

According to the House of Parliament Library, FABS is the third closest three way marginal in England  – based on 2005 figures, amended for boundary changes, the seat is split 35.5% Con, 33.9% Lab and 28.4% Lib Dem [source: Terry Cook].

Other prospective candidates announced to date are Ian Boulton (Labour) and Jack Lopresti (Conservative).

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