The runners up in Wirral’s 2010 parliamentary elections reveal their thoughts on collecting 50,000 votes but no cigar

Jun 23 2010 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

CUMULATIVELY they collected almost 50,000 votes in May’s election, but what happens to those Wirral candidates who just miss out on securing a seat in Parliament?

For Phil Davies, Wirral West candidate, there’s plenty to do as a councillor and deputy leader of the Labour group on Wirral Council.

But Wallasey Conservative candidate Leah Fraser no longer has even that to fall back on.

The two time parliamentary contender lost out to Labour’s Angela Eagle, again, and saw her Liscard council seat disappear on the same night, leaving her politically empty handed.

Leah declined to speak to the Wirral News, having polled a respectable 13,071 votes on May 6.

Jeff Clarke was the Tory hope in Wirral South.

Defeated by only 531 votes, he said he “enjoyed the campaign” and would stand again.

Jeff Clarke said: “It was clear it was going to be tight but I never thought I’d lose, if I’m honest, until I was told I was about to.”

Phil Davies, defending a seat held by party colleague, Stephen Hesford since 1997, was the only candidate to see the seat he was contending change hands as new Conservative MP, Esther McVey scooped the constituency on a night of gains for the Tories.

But Phil felt his team fought a good fight.