Election 2010: The battle between Tories and Labour for Edgbaston

Apr 30 2010 By Victoria Farncombe

Victoria Farncombe goes on the campaign trail in Birmingham’s most hotly contested seat.

Standing at the entrance of Kitwell Primary School, in Bartley Green, Gisela Stuart, Labour’s candidate for Edgbaston, cuts a forlorn figure as she hands out fliers and asks voters for their support.

Most of the mums wheeling push chairs and carrying school bags have no time to discuss politics. But the odd one stops, if only to moan.

Mother-of-three Catherine Thomas ignores Gisela’s outstretched hand.

“I won’t be voting Labour,” she said. “They don’t stand for what they used to. I’ll be voting Liberal Democrat this time.”

In other parts of the country, this evidence of Clegg love might be cause for concern.

But not here in Edgbaston where it’s a two-horse race between red and blue.

To see who’s edging ahead, I’ve agreed to spend half a day on the campaign trail with each.

In the red corner is Gisela, the incumbent, who has held the seat since Tony Blair swept to power in 1997, breaking 70 years of Conservative power in the south Birmingham constituency.

In the blue corner is Deirdre Alden, Conservative councillor for Edgbaston and a member of Birmingham’s best known political clan.

A woman MP has held the seat since 1953 and, whoever wins, that proud tradition looks set to continue.

But as just 2,349 votes separated these contestants in 2005, the prize is there for the taking and the rivals are feeling the weight of their responsibility.

“I sent my last email yesterday at 1am and my first at 6am today. I keep looking in the mirror and thinking, who is that woman,” says Gisela.

Meanwhile, across town, Deirdre foregoes her beloved heels and slips into a pair of sensible shoes, essential footwear for another 12-hour day of doorstep canvassing.

“If I lose, Gordon Brown will probably win. It’s that important,” she said.

What makes the contest so juicy is that there is no love lost between the two women. As city councillor for Edgbaston and chair of the health scrutiny committee, Deirdre has been a permanent thorn in Gisela’s side.

And the former Blairite was forced to back-track last month when she wrongly told her followers on Twitter that Deirdre, her husband John and son Robert, all city councillors, claimed a total of £150,000 in allowances and expenses from the public purse when the figure is actually nearer £75,000.

Round one to Deirdre, but who will emerge victorious on May 6 is anyone’s guess. From the reaction of people she’s canvassed and her own carefully recorded stats, Deirdre is quietly confident.

But Gisela thinks the TV debates, the rise of Nick Clegg and the lingering discontent over MPs’ expenses have conspired to make this anyone’s game.

“I can’t call it,” she said. “This is my fourth election as an MP. Normally, you know where your support is and you make sure on election day they come out and vote for you. This time around, it’s completely different.

“It’s as if it were a puzzle and someone has thrown the pieces up in the air and they don’t fit together anymore. It’s very strange.”

She hopes people will remember her personal successes which have included the development of the new Queen Elizabeth hospital and changing a sentence in the Criminal Justice Act to allow the police to arrest kerb crawlers, cleaning up Edgbaston’s notorious red light districts.

Zipping back to the office in Gisela’s red Mini, she runs me through the morning ahead but warns: “Plans will change. That’s the one constant you can rely on.”

The highlight of the morning is a visit from Schools Secretary Ed Balls to Four Dwellings Primary School and Children’s Centre, in Quinton. But first it’s a quick check with Gisela’s right hand woman, Lesley Bagshaw who handles her case work from their offices off the Hagley Road.

If Gisela goes, Lesley’s out of a job too.

“I just don’t want to think about it,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been here forever.”

I’d like to sympathise but there’s no time. I’m permitted a cup of tea but as Gisela keeps her coat on and remains standing to drink hers, I feel a long, leisurely sip is out of the question.

Luckily, we arrive at Four Dwellings with time to spare and someone’s made a Victoria sponge.

As we wait for Mr Balls to arrive, deputy head teacher Sandra Nicholson makes it clear where her loyalties lie.

“When I first started teaching, it was a Thatcher government,” she said. “The budgets were so poor, teachers were having to buy their own resources.

“Gordon Brown has put so much into schools. It’s made such an impact. I fear if the Tories get in, we’ll be back to where we were. Budgets will be poor and children will suffer.”

Mid-chat there’s a change in atmosphere suggesting greatness is near. The minister has arrived.