Labor sources have blamed the Tories for a political ploy designed to divert attention from the local election campaign, for which the Conservatives’ headquarters are preparing for losses. The percentage of council seats nominated by political parties may vary between constituencies, in part reflecting the strength of local party unions. However, the sharp drop in Labor candidates on the Southwest side has led to suspicions from Tory sources, given the traditional power of the Liberal Democrats in the region. The Liberal Democrats’ success in the 2010 election, which allowed them to form a coalition with the Tories, was built in part on a series of victories in the Southwest. Liberal Democrats see the area as a key aspect of their return plan for the next election, which includes targeting so-called “Blue Wall” seats in solid Tory rural constituencies. There is no official electoral pact between Labor and the Liberal Democrats, but Tory Party officials suspect a degree of private coordination between the two parties’ election generals. In the recent North Shropshire by-elections, which were triggered by the resignation of Torres MP Owen Patterson, both parties were candidates. However, Tory officials believe Labor has held back, with limited resources on party money and the time of shadow cabinet members, as the Liberal Democrats were in a better position to win. In the end it was the Liberal Democrats who achieved a victory, overthrowing a vast majority of Tories and sparking questions about the party leadership from Boris Johnson.
