Liberal landslide in Banbury

Now, there’s a headline you didn’t expect to see in this constituency.  But, if the Oxford Mail website is to be believed, I am set for an historic victory in this constituency. On latest figures, the Liberal Democrat candidate would gain 46%, far, far ahead of the Conservatives (10%) with Labour behind them (6%).

Obviously, I welcome this recognition that a return to Liberalism (for, truly, this was once a Liberal stronghold, a century ago) is best for North Oxfordshire. I blush to think that my performances at hustings might have consolidated our standing, but I do have a slight worry.

The same poll puts the Greens on 34%.

The voters of this constituency are ready, I am sure, for change, but somehow I sense that the sackcloth and hessian prescribed by the Greens might not be for most people living here. Green might be the colour of wellies but it is not the colour of politics.

Of course, it may be that Tory members have taken so seriously Mr Cameron’s message that green is the new blue that they ticked the wrong box. Even if we assume every Green is a closet Tory (or vice versa), the LibDems would, on these results, score a narrow victory.

Or maybe, just maybe, there’s something wrong with this sort of uncontrolled, unscientific poll.

I sigh. The asti spumante will stay on ice. For now.