Cameron: Mid Dorset and North Poole “vital” to Tory majority

Prime Minister David Cameron has said it is “vital” for the Conservative party to win the marginal Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency from the Liberal Democrats.

Speaking on the Lib Dem and Tory two-way marginal he told the Bournemouth Echo that “It’s a big fight here” and a Tory win was “absolutely vital”.

Cameron was on the election campaign in Poole, meeting families and pensioners who had benefitted from recent government initiatives.

Liberal Democrat Annette Brooke first won the seat in 2001, five years ago she beat the Tory candidate by just 239 votes. Brooke is stepping down and her replacement, Vikki Slade, is facing fierce competition from the Conservative candidate Michael Tomlinson.

Your Election 15 organised and broadcasted a live hustings last month which was attended by nearly all the candidates, including Labour’s Patrick Canavan, Ukip’s Richard Turner as well as Slade and Tomlinson. Green party candidate Mark Chivers is also standing in the constituency.

Cameron attended a family barbecue at the home of Calum and Lilli Doherty in Lytchett Matravers in a flying visit to Poole. He tucked into a hot dog using a knife and fork, a move seized on by twitter users soon after.

 

Cam has a go at eating on camera – brave pic.twitter.com/yG9pi0TFpM

— James Tapsfield (@JamesTapsfield) April 6, 2015

 

The Conservative leader travelled across the South West during the day, also making a speech in Bristol where he pleaded for UKIP supporters to “come home” and vote Tory on May 7.

Cameron said: “This election is not a time to send a message or make a protest. This election is about choosing the government of our country for the next five years. Come with us, come back home to us.”