Over the past few weeks, East Anglia Bylines has been reporting the nuances of the electoral contest in the region. And the various whoopsies. In profiling many of the candidates, we have tried to get under their rhetoric and discern true intent. Similarly our reporters have examined local idiosyncrasies and local issues that colour voter intentions, and which may be absent from the more general, national polling picture.
As reported by both our dedicated and acerbic chronicler Pecksniff, and Stephen McNair in his article: Thursday’s election: a big win for ‘don’t know’, an unprecedented number of voters have yet to decide where they will put their cross. Perhaps they are a ‘shy Tory’. Or a tactical voter waiting to see which way to vote.
If you’re one of those ‘undecideds’, we’re here to help you. Our articles below, and the Pecksniff back issues, might give you more certainty or additional pause for thought. Go straight to your county by clicking on the county name: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk or Suffolk. With 61 constituencies in the region, East Anglia Bylines wasn’t able to cover every one. If yours isn’t there, we hope our general articles below will be of help.
We also pay homage to the canvassers and family supporters who are there, behind the scenes, cheering on the candidates.
But first here are our more general articles. These look at manifesto pledges, red lines, supposed ‘safe seats’, polling data, the changing political landscape, what might be the ‘Portillo Moments’ in the region in this election, and some of the more colourful candidates standing across the region.
General
Manifestos
How do the party manifestos compare on climate action? (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
A look at Labour’s manifesto (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Should Labour lower voting age to 16? (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Starmer’s Brexit red lines: with one bound he could be free (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Massive cuts: in return for £170! (eastangliabylines.co.uk) – The Resolution Foundation looks at the Conservative Manifesto
Polling
What would a Reform surge do to Labour and the Liberal Democrats? (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Making sense of the polls (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
MRP polls fail to spot local party strengths and weaknesses (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Changing landscape?
No such thing as a safe Conservative seat (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
What will be the ‘Portillo moment’? (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Look beyond Clacton: Farage is about to destroy the right (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
East Anglia has always meant trouble at elections. Today is no different (eastangliabylines.co.uk) A look at the alternative candidates.
Bedfordshire
New constituency Hitchin faces long-standing problems (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Cambridgeshire
Election 24: Candidates and canvassing in Cambridgeshire (eastangliabylines.co.uk) A look at South Cambridgeshire and Ely and East Cambridgeshire.
Essex
Is history coming to this small East Anglian seaside town? (eastangliabylines.co.uk) looks at Walton-on-the-Naze in the Clacton constituency.
Farage’s Clacton gambit (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Election 24: Rayleigh & Wickford: even the safest Tory seats are in peril (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Election 2024: Castle Point: a Reform beachhead? (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Election 24 Basildon and Billericay: Reform or Labour? (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Hertfordshire
Herts tectonic plates move against Tories (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Election 24: a conditional landslide in Hertfordshire (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
New constituency Hitchin faces long-standing problems (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Norfolk
The North Norfolk dog fight (eastangliabylines.co.uk) profiles the two leading candidate Duncan Baker (Tory) and Steffan Aquarone (LibDem)
Might Liz Truss provide this election’s ‘Portillo Moment’? (eastangliabylines.co.uk) In the South West Norfolk constituency.
Waveney Valley: a new constituency and everything to fight for (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Candidates urged to address poverty in Norfolk (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Suffolk
What do Ipswich residents care about ahead of the election? (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Election 24: What issues matter to Lowestoft voters? (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Waveney Valley: a new constituency and everything to fight for (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Greens with a spring in their step: a conversation with Adrian Ramsay (eastangliabylines.co.uk) – Green candidate for Waveney Walley
Supporters
Behind every candidate, whether they are successful or not, is a team. Their canvassing and support role requires as much persistence and dedication as that of their candidates:
Hidden force: the volunteers behind every election campaign (eastangliabylines.co.uk)
Rubbish husband. Great MP! (eastangliabylines.co.uk) Mary Lamb describes life canvassing and supporting ex MP Sir Norman Lamb.
