Poll results back candidate’s view

Press, 25 September 1989, Page 9

Poll results back candidate’s view

By

DAVID CLARKSON

Sydenham poll results showing the Labour Party ahead confirmed the party’s own conclusions, said the Labour candidate, Mrs Linda Constable.

She was selected a month ago to contest the seat, which is now held by the leader of the New Labour Party, Mr Jim Anderton. The factors leading to the resurgence in Labour support were believed to be the selection of a candidate, the Budget, the change of leadership, and the improved economic outlook, she said. She expected a high percentage of uncommitted voters a year before the next election. Other nationwide polls had shown a high percentage of uncommitted voters. “I am confident that, given we have a year to go, Labour will retain Sydenham,” she said. “Sydenham is a fairly conservative electorate at. heart, a fairly elderly electorate. I think when it comes to the crunch it will stay Labour, though Jim will have a personal following.” Closer to the election people would realise that a vote for the

New Labour Party “would be the same as voting National.” “I would hope that once the electorate gets to know me, and I start to work there, some of those ‘don’t knows’ will firm up Labour’s way,” she said. The National Party’s electorate publicity chairwoman, Miss Judith Harrington, stood as the party’s Sydenham candidate in 1987, and has said she would seek selection again for next year. “We are still picking that it is going to be very close on election day, and that we can in fact take it if we put a lot of extra work into the electorate. We are starting to wind things up now.” She expected that the Labour Party and New Labour Party would each get about the same vote, and that the National Party would only need to get 35 to 37 per cent of the total vote to take the seat.