Tories have "No chance" in Hartlepool

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 28th Aug 2004

After the recent by-election win in Leicester South - and a close second in Birmingham Hodge Hill - the Liberal Democrats are seen as strong challengers to Labour in the Hartlepool by-election. The election, which is expected to be held in the autumn, was caused when Peter Mandelson was given the job of European Commissioner. So far, the Tories have been unable to find a suitable candidate to contest the seat.

Hartlepool Liberal Democrats have picked barrister Jody Dunn as their candidate and she is setting the pace in the campaign already.

Even the Tories agree that they're not in the race - Tory Leader on Hartlepool Council Cllr George Morris has conceded that the Conservatives have NO CHANCE of winning the Hartlepool by-election.

Within minutes of his admitting this on BBC Radio 4's World at One programme, three local Tories had rung to agree with him. "They told me it was most undiplomatic - but that it was honest," he said.

The election will be a close fight between Jody Dunn and Labour.

More information from http://www.hartlepool-libdems.org.uk/index.html