UK Politics
Could Crewe go blue?
Published 08 May 2008
The Tory candidate, a member of the Timpson stores family, knows it won't be a shoo-in
During the lead-up to this month's local and mayoral elections, very few Tories had time to consider the impending by-election in Crewe and Nantwich. When asked, most Conservative MPs were busy canvassing in their own constituencies and would describe the Tory candidate in Crewe as "ehh, that Shoe Guy". The reason for this is that 34-year-old barrister Edward Timpson comes from the family whose chain of shoe stores will be remembered by anyone over 30 (the firm now specialises in shoe-repair, key-cutting, signs and engraving).
The Tories are hopeful, but because Labour has a substantial majority (over 7,000) they are reluctant to make any brash statements about the constituency being theirs for the taking. The late Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody held the seat from 1974, and the party has (some say cynically) put up her daughter, Tamsin, to fight the seat. Tamsin Dunwoody was a Welsh Assembly member until last year when she lost her seat to a Conservative.
Edward Timpson may appear to have the textbook Tory CV, but that is not necessarily the case. He attended both state and private schools - his parents briefly lost control of the family business - and had an interesting childhood.
He grew up with a brother and sister, two adopted brothers and, over a number of years, 86 foster children. "The house was never empty," he says, "it was always noisy, and though some may find that unusual, it was all I knew. We all mucked in and everyone just got on with it." At one stage, a ten-year-old Edward helped out when temporary chaos broke out because nine-month-old triplets came to stay.
The foster children staying with the Timpson family were from different backgrounds and there were challenges, such as dealing with children with behavioural issues and those with Down's syndrome; others had endured abuse. "This had a profound effect on me from a young age," he says. "Half of my work is legal aid for those from broken homes who need support."
It has been a hectic few months: he ran both the New York and the London marathons, and just nine weeks ago Lydia (child number three) arrived. When I call, Lydia can be heard gurgling happily in the background, while the other free-range Timpson tinies are hanging out in party headquarters. It is achingly Cameron.
Timpson is rather laid-back. "I am utterly realistic about this challenge and what it means," he says. "Crewe is the 165th target seat. It's been a Labour seat for years and we need an 8.2 per cent swing, but I'm prepared for the fight. On the doorstep there's an appetite for change: they don't like Gordon. How the national picture played out last week could be repeated here."
He continually returns to his work with young people. "One of the reasons I wanted to be an MP is that I have a lot of court cases with children who have gone through the system. In ten years the number of children in care has not gone down. It's not good enough. The frustrating part of my job is that by the time they get to me the damage is already done. The only way to influence this is to try and bring families together. I believe in family."
Those working with Timpson say that he is surprisingly calm, given that the by-election was unexpected. One suggests that his unflappable temperament resembles that of Cameron. He did not become a party member until just after the 2005 general election, so he is not a career politician. Contemporaries at Durham University do not remember him being with the Conservatives, or even the debating society.
Cameron, whose face appears on by-election leaflets, was early to visit after the bank holiday and no doubt will visit again before election day on 22 May. Team Timpson headquarters is on an industrial estate right next to the train station; they wanted a site near the station, said a staffer, so anybody coming from out of town had easy access to the office.
A staunch support team from Conservative Campaign Headquarters includes Nicholas Timothy from research, and the press office has lent one of its favourites, Alan Sendorek. Also making an appearance is the "keen for a seat" former Cameron aide George Eustice.
A senior Tory hears rumours that Labour may make much of the new, tighter immigration rules coming into effect this autumn. "Are they planning their very own 'Are you thinking what I'm thinking campaign'?," he asks wryly.
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