New ComRes Poll – Labour Now Just 3% Ahead

There is a new ComRes poll published in tomorrow’s Independent on Sunday/ Sunday Mirror which shows the Labour lead over the Conservatives further narrowing to just 3%:

              Conservative             37% (up 2%)

                                        Labour                      40% (up 1%)

                                        Lib Dem                    11% (down 1%)

The poll also finds that the NO2AV have taken a small lead over the “yes” campaign. ComRes find that 37% are planning to vote “no”; 34% “yes” and 28% don’t yet know.

ComRes interviewed 2,004 GB adults online on 9-10 March 2011

Two Conservative Councillors to Stand Down

Two Conservative Councillors have announced their intention to stand down from Reading Borough Council this May.

Cllr Tom Steele (left) was elected in 2007, gaining the Kentwood ward seat from Labour. He served as Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group for most of that time. Tom (aged 72) has decided not to seek re-election in order to spend more time with his wife and family.

Tom said “Having campaigned for many years in West Reading and Kentwood ward specifically, I feel that it is time to hand the baton on to a younger generation of Councillor. I also want to spend more time with my long suffering and very supportive wife Patricia”.

Cllr Mike Townend (right) was also elected in 2007 to represent Church ward when the Conservatives gained two seats in the ward from Labour. Until recently Mike served in the Cabinet as Lead Councillor for Communities and the Voluntary Sector before handing over the position to Cllr Jeanette Skeats. Mike has decided not to seek re-election due to the pressures of combining elected office with both family commitments and an increasingly demanding job which now requires him to travel to the US and across Europe on a regular basis.

Mike said “I have thoroughly enjoyed my four years representing Church ward residents and steering through an increase in funding to the voluntary sector this year.  Regretfully I have decided not to stand for election again due to increasing work pressures and the need to give time to my family, therefore allowing someone else to step forward who has more time available to take up the issues of local people.”

Cllr Andrew Cumpsty, Leader of Reading Borough Council paid tribute to both Tom and Mike: “I would like to thank Tom and Mike for their fantastic contribution to public life in Reading. Both are individuals of great integrity and will be missed from the Conservative Group on the Council. I am sure that they will have further contributions to make in the future.”

Reading Conservatives have selected local residents James Anderson to contest the Kentwood seat and Geoff Poland to contest the Church ward seat.

A list of all Conservative candidates will be published shortly.