Claremont Conservative candidate Bob Goodall has claimed that his party are not to blame for the UKIP protest vote.
Labour ousted the Liberal Democrats in 2012 and Goodall expects his rival party to take the seat once again and stave off the UKIP assault – provided by Mary Ferrer in Claremont – that has seen gains nationwide.
But self-proclaimed ‘activist’ Goodall is expecting the Tories, who traditionally do not have a strong powerbase in the area, to build bridges with disillusioned voters.
“Its mid-term elections – so you have to expect a protest vote [for UKIP]. I don’t think UKIP will get Claremont, I think Labour may hold it with a very much reduced margin,” said Goodall.
“I knew there was going to be a protest; I knew the government might be blamed for all the ills. But we’re here and are trying to provide solutions – and our local candidates will be doing just that.
“The Conservatives are trying to build a party in the area and we’ve been well received, so I hope we’re going to do rather well and be encouraged by that vote.”
With under a third of potential voters turning out at the polls yesterday, Goodall believes the winner in the ward could be by a significant margin.
The final turnout was announced as 29.58% – with only 52,860 residents casting their vote.
“A turnout of 30% is low. That’s because people are turned off by local politics,” said Goodall.
“I think a candidate needs to win with a good margin. I think we’re going to see majorities here today in the hundreds, perhaps 50.
“I hope that’s not the case and I hope that whoever wins will represent Claremont.”
@richbrowne6 speaking to Conservative candidate Bob Goodall this morning. #MMelections2014 pic.twitter.com/7fHqRDaQ4n
— Mike Taylor (@mtaylor1878) May 23, 2014
Running in his first election, the Salfordian still believes he can make a difference in his local area, despite his lack of optimism when it comes to his hopes of clinching the seat.
And insists he will be back for more in future elections.
“The reception from people has been very encouraging – perhaps because I’m a local boy. People are hacked off, maybe because of the poor attendance record of some of the candidates,” said the former engineer.
“Salford needs councillors to be there to represent the views of local people. I think I could do that and I’m sure I could do that in future years.
“This is my first run out; prior to this I was not at all political. I’m an activist.
“And I got involved because of vulnerable adults being badly treated by Salford Council and I got nothing from the existing councillors on that issue. So I joined the Conservative Party to start to get things done.”
The Conservative councillor has also stressed to continue his battle to aid the vulnerable adults in the MGH campaign that inspired his turn from IT manager to politician.
“Regardless of the result today I will continue in my campaigning role.
“The issues for vulnerable adults have not gone away, we’ve had a local government ombudsman report which backs up our position, we’re now trying to hold Councillor Connor (the Labour Assistant Mayor) – who totally ignored them – to account.”
Goodall is up against Ronnie Benjamin of the Liberal Democrats, Labour’s Sareda Dirir and UKIP’s candidate Ferrer.
Green Party’s Rene Iacopini and David Matthew Kilsby of the Trade Unionists and Social Against Cuts round out the Claremont candidates.
