The Conservatives dispatched 100 campaigners on to the streets of Copeland, even before the party has agreed a candidate.

Liberal Democrat hopeful Rebecca Hanson, who was the first from any party to confirm she would be standing in the upcoming by-election, was also out in the constituency on Saturday, while the Greens are gearing up for their selection meeting tomorrow night.

The Conservatives’ show of numbers sends out a strong hint that the party feels it could take the seat being vacated by Labour’s Jamie Reed.

News that the date for the by-election, which was originally thought would coincide with the local council elections in May, is now likely to be February 23 has also given the parties a new sense of urgency. If that is the case, the postal vote deadline is already close.

John Stevenson, Carlisle’s Conservative MP, was among those on the Tory party campaign trail in Copeland.

And he said that, now Mr Reed has formally resigned, his party’s selection is underway and would most likely be in a position to announce their candidate on Wednesday night.

“There has been over 100 of us out on the streets, all over Copeland – Egremont, Keswick and Millom have been meeting points but we’ve been out across the whole of the area,” he said.


John Stevenson Mr Stevenson said they’d had a largely positive response from voters while out canvassing.

“Theresa May goes down well. People are telling us there are issues in regard to Jeremy Corbyn. The main issues people are talking about are jobs, Nugen and investment in the A595,” he said.

He admitted health, including the threat to local health services as a result of proposals from the Government’s Success Regime, was also an issue, but added: “When you get into a proper discussion there is a recognition that there have been issues for many years.

“There is a concern but what I say is there has been a consultation, no decisions have been made and there is clearly time to influence the final decision. You are therefore better off having a Conservative MP influencing a Conservative government rather than opposition MP.”

He added that the Government’s austerity measures had rarely come up during doorstep conversations.

Cockermouth town councillor, former teacher and vocal health campaigner Rebecca Hanson said she has been working around the clock since being selected as the Lib Dem’s candidate.


Rebecca Hanson She has met key figures such as Copeland Mayor Mike Starkie, members of the local farming community and leaders of the Local Enterprise Partnership and been to London with party leader Tim Farron to work on policy.

Next she plans to hold discussions about Whitehaven Academy and is continuing her work to prevent Whitehaven’s maternity unit being downgraded, as proposed by the Success Regime.

As part of that, she has also published a Youtube video explaining in detail her arguments against the removal of these key services.

On Saturday her focus was Millom, where she spent the day meeting activists in the community to talk about issues in the town.

“I am doing lots of groundwork, meeting with as many people as possible to really make sure I understand the issues inside out,” she said.

Members of Allerdale and Copeland Green Party have already confirmed they will also be fielding a candidate with a clear anti-nuclear and anti-austerity agenda. That person will be chosen tomorrow.

With Labour fielding a firmly pro-nuclear candidate, the Greens say they are the only ones offering voters an alternative.


Jonathan Bartley Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, said: “The Greens are the only party in Copeland campaigning against nuclear power, to defend the NHS and for a close relationship with Europe.

“Voting Green is a vote for a renewable energy revolution which would create thousands of jobs in Copeland.

“Allerdale and Copeland Greens are dedicated to ending poverty and inequality in their local community and creating a fairer society by putting forward the bold policies we so desperately need.”