Distance was no object for barrister James Tumbridge, who is now on the latest shortlist of 10 for the next round of Conservative candidates contesting the plum Mid-Norfolk seat tomorrow.
He had flown to Canada for the weekend when the message came to say there was now a place for him in the line-up, having not been selected for the original list this weekend. This followed the news that Annunziata Rees-Mogg was offered a seat in Somerset and Frome. I’m not sure if there have been other changes too.
James emailed me and said:
“I’m typing this quickly from Canada, I just bought a ticket home – BA promised it wouldn’t be that much but it cost 500 pounds! It doesn’t matter – Mid Norfolk is more important to me.”
James is a local candidate who is not on the A-list and stood against 18 A-listers last weekend. You certainly can’t be more committed than this, best of luck James, you deserve to win, you have the enduring qualities as well as the passion to lead a vigorous campaign and become a great MP.
Update: 14 October, John Flack, an Essex businessman with strong local connections and former chairman of Conservatives in the Eastern Region, is also in the line up today. He is another fantastic candidate, what a tough choice.
Go for it, Ellee. If we all wish it, maybe it will happen. Of course, we could always pray but maybe that’s asking too much.
He’s certainly showed that he’s serious about the seat. Good luck to him.
I’m afraid James ran a poor campaign in Norwich North in 2005 and would be a poor candidate in Mid Norfolk. He may look good but ‘A’ List he ain’t.
SIM, James ran some excellent campaigns and worked really hard. The UEA comes under Norwich South, are you getting your candidates confused?
I’m a UEA graduate – I don’t live there but do take a keen interest as do my friends who “live on” in the seat. I was in Norwich for a few weeks during the campaign in 05, though sadly not now. I know UEA is in Norwich South but I used to live in Norwich North. Sorry, but as an “ordinary” person I’m afriad that James didn’t run a good campaign. In my London seat I voted Conservative so have no bias.
By the way are you therefore saying that your candidate in Norwich South was running a poor campaign and wouldn’t be a good candidate let alone an A Lister?
SIM UEA, not at all, just clarifying the situation on behalf of James from my own personal knowledge and experience. You are, of course, entitled to your view. It would have been very helpful if you had offered any constructive comments at the time, as well as offering some assistance so you could have got to know James better.
James put the same energy and passion into contesting his Norwich seat as he has Mid Norfolk. Here is a quote from the EDP just before election day, this was their unbiased view:
Tory hopeful James Tumbridge is definitely giving it his all and has been pulling in his party’s big guns, with another shadow minister due today.
Please see:
http://new.edp24.co.uk/Content/Election/Constituencies/asp/NorwichNorth.asp
SIM UEA, fyi, an update from the EDP:
“In the past Mr Tumbridge has pledged his commitment to dualling the county’s major A-roads, improving local public transport and infrastructure and getting the Northern Distributor Road built.”
I know James also campaigned vigorously to improve appalling disability access in shops in Norwich.
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED14%20Oct%202006%2009%3A20%3A16%3A363
Ellee,
I think it is a fair point that the omission of James’ political background from your original article is ever so slightly disingenuous.
After all a quick search reveals that James actually lost ground in Norwich (-1.4%), to exactly the same degree that the Lib Dem’s gained ground.
That is not particularly impressive and certainly takes the shine off his willingness to spend £500 to fly back from the USA.
Yours ever, RB
He’s made it to the last four, so that flight was worth it after all.
Clearly losing votes doens’t matter too much!
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