Tories Count the Cost of Election Fiasco

It's almost unbelievable that in 1983 the Tories came within 787 votes of winning Burnley, a seat they last held at the end of the First World War.

The Conservatives have always been the strongest challengers to Labour in Burnley and the seat with its affluent commuting village of Worsthorne, and Tory pockets in Nelson, Pendle, Rose Hill and Rossendale, should offer the party hope for the future. But the Tories are finished in Burnley and local association insiders report that there will be just three candidates in next May's local council elections.

Expenses returns from the Elections Commission reveal the Tories spent £11.5 million on June's General Election and for Burnley that works out at a cost of £2.79 for every vote they gained. This makes makes the cost of a vote for New Labour in Burnley of just £1 look quite economical and the Liberal Democrats' 34p a vote positive bargain hunting.

Of course the three main parties pale into insignificance compared to the British National Party's almost daylight robbery of just 11p for every vote they gained in Burnley. But of course the BNP were aided by those two priceless words 'STOP IMMIGRATION" - a policy which can attract votes that no amount of money can buy.

The election also took its toll on the Tory pressure group, the UK Independence Party. Media-puffed UKIP had to cough up a massive £2.01 for each vote they gained in Burnley in June and that effort seems to have finished them off in the town. They are unlikely to fight any council seats next May.

Peter Pike - Labour Party - 18,195
Robert Frost - Conservative Party - 7,697
Paul Wright - Liberal Democrats - 5,975
Steve Smith - British National Party - 4,151
Richard Buttrey - UK Independence Party - 866

Labour Majority: 10,498
Turnout: 36,884 - 55.6% (-11.3%)




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