Shropshire Star

General Election road trip: Tories set for victory in medieval battleground of Oswestry

Nestled neatly in the top corner of the county, the small market town of Oswestry has seen its fair share bloodshed over the centuries. A strategic defensive point on the border between England and Wales, it became known as a "hot village" when it was burned to the ground by Welsh rebel forces, and in medieval times it constantly changed hands between the warring nations.

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Tories are on target for Oswestry Town FC legend Mickey Ryan, 83

It is fair to say that in modern times, the town's politics have been somewhat more stable. It is the largest town in the North Shropshire Constituency, which has been held by Tory Owen Paterson since 1997. According to the Electoral Reform Society, it is historically the safest seat in Britain, and allowing for boundary and name changes, it has been held continuously by the Conservative Party since 1835 – the days of Robert Peel's Tamworth Manifesto and the reign of King William IV.

And with a thumping majority of 16,584 at the last General Election, it would be a major upset indeed if the vote resulted in anything other than a Tory victory.

It has not always been so comfortable of course; when Mr Paterson first contested the seat 20 years ago, his majority was a comparatively slender 2,195 – making it practically a marginal. But that was during the era of the Blair landslide, the Prescott Express, when Things Could Only Get Better for Labour. There should be no such worries for the Tories this time around. It is unlikely to be a "hot village" for Mr Paterson on June 8.

Once more, he will be taking on he will be taking on Labour's Graeme Currie, a social worker who also stood against him in 2015.

Certainly, it looks like the Tories can count on the vote Kristian Barker, who is tinkering with his phone in the shade beneath a tree in Bailey Street.

Kristian Baker – mind already made up

"I have been following it, but I don't think I have heard anything that will change the way I vote," says the 40-year-old who works in the machine handling industry.

"I know how I'm going to go, it will be for the Conservatives, I feel their policies are better than the others, particularly after the mess last time Labour were in."

Much has been made of Theresa May's presidential style campaign, which has seen in some instances seen the Conservative Party branding take second place to that of the Prime Minister. However, Theresa May's leadership seems to have had little impact on Kristian's decision.

"I don't think she's been there long enough to tell," he says. "I did think the way David Cameron went after Brexit was a bit of a poor show. I know he didn't believe in Brexit and was opposed to it, but he didn't go about it in the right way."

Mike Marsh, taking a breather outside The George pub, says the character of the leader is important.

Mike Rush, 68 – "Corbyn seems weak"

He identifies Brexit as the most important issue this time around, and says Britain needs a strong leader.

"The election has been called by Theresa May on this issue, and as far as I'm concerned, she has a strong personality," says the 68-year-old.

And Jeremy Corbyn? "I think he's weak. There seems to be a mixture of left and right in his party, and I don't think they are all in agreement."

Just across the road is The Fat Rabbit, a vegan restaurant run by 43-year-old Linda Clark.

Firmly on the Left, she says she was brought up as a Labour supporter, but does not know how she will vote, suggesting she might consider supporting the Greens.

"I think the environment is the most important issue, it affects everybody," she says. The mother-of-three says more consideration also needs to be given to young people.

"Tuition fees are one of the worst things that ever happened."

She says that while she will definitely be using her vote, Linda says she is resigned to the outcome.

"It will always be Conservative round here," she says.

Geoffrey Broadhurst, 80 – "no complaints" about Tories

Backing up this assertion is 80-year-old Geoffrey Broadhurst, who is eyeing up the produces at Covent Garden Fruit Market in English Walls.

For him, education is also important, as his the health service. But unlike Linda, he will be voting for Mr Paterson.

"I will vote Conservative, I think they are doing a good job, I have got no complaints," he says.

Over in Cross Street, a local proudly introduces us to "local legend" Mickey Ryan. Once a centre-forward for the former Oswestry Town FC, he scored an incredible 58 goals in one season, a record which has unsurprisingly never been beaten.

As far as he's concerned, it should be a clear win for the Tories.

"I've been watching the campaign mainly on television, you have got to do something to keep up with it," says Mickey, who worked as a builder before his retirement.

"I'm voting Conservative, I think the Labour Party is in a bit of a traumatic state at the moment with that Corbyn."

Also well-known around the town is shopkeeper Yossi Gliksman, who keeps the Upstairs Downstairs homeware shop in Leg Street. His shop is packed to the rafters with high-end pots, pans and tableware, and is famous for its cookery masterclasses. Yet despite this, he is concerned about the decline in the fortunes of the town centre, and says the Government really does need to step in to help.

"We have seen a massive drop in footfall in Oswestry, and it has had a big impact on the town centre.

"I think the Government should have a budget to subsidise car parking in town centres," he says.

"In towns, this is very important, it will help to keep local businesses alive."

Yossi, who has been in the town for 30 years, says he will be voting Conservative, although he does have some reservations about the tone of their campaign.

Indeed, he says that there has been little from any of the parties to convince him they are working hard for his vote.

"I haven't seen anybody in the shop from any party," he says.

"I just think the Conservatives are a little bit complacent, it's almost like it's 'how much are they going to win by?''."