Tories targeting Derby South seat

DERBY South is now among the list of Labour majority seats Conservatives say they are targeting in the General Election.

Yesterday, Tories changed their campaign tactics as they focused attention on seats with a Labour majority.

Jack Perschke, Conservative candidate in Derby South, said that included his constituency where Margaret Beckett has a majority of 5,657 to defend.

"We are already running a very substantial campaign in Derby South, we have always thought we had a good chance there," he said.

"What this means now is that we will get more attention from visitors and the national party and the way in which Margaret Beckett and the Labour team is running its campaign will be coming under more scrutiny."

He said the attention for seats with Labour majorities was something he had been pushing for.

"What we have heard on the doorstep is that Labour don't have a core vote any more. There was a demographic, a type of person, who used to vote Labour no matter what but the failings of this Government means that person no longer exists."

Margaret Beckett said she never took any election or the electorate for granted and accused the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives of arrogance.

She said: "The Conservatives may have regarded Derby South a safe seat but I never have. I think what we are seeing is a very strong arrogance from the Tories and Liberals and I think they are making a mistake taking the electorate for granted."

She said if she had any anxiety it was that undecided voters may turn to one of the other two main parties without considering their policies.

"I think what's happening unfortunately because of the TV debates is that the media is concentrating on style and personality."