Shropshire Star

General election road trip: No home advantage in The Wrekin for Corbyn on his old patch

The Wrekin is a safe Tory seat and Mark Andrews says it would take a brave man to bet against them this time.

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Wellington – the heart of the constituency where Jeremy Corbyn grew up

It’s where Jeremy Corbyn grew up. Where he went to school, where he cut his teeth in politics. But on a sunny lunchtime in The Wrekin constituency, there doesn’t seem to be much love for the Labour leader.

As a young man, Mr Corbyn planted a flag on the top of The Wrekin to celebrate an election victory.

But if the mood among voters in Wellington town centre is anything to go by, he is unlikely to be repeating the ceremony any time soon.

Mr Corbyn’s close confidante Diane Abbot once remarked that the future Labour leader had learned everything he knew in Shropshire, but there is little evidence of any home-turf advantage for the Labour leader.

Mavis Mellings, 76, with friend – and first-time Tory voter – Christine Sheppard, 62

Sitting on a bench near Wellington’s landmark clock tower is 62-year-old Christine Sheppard.

“I’ve been a Labour voter all my life, my dad was a miner, and I always tried to continue with that, but this time I think I am going to vote Conservative,” she says.

“I don’t like Corbyn, he hasn’t got enough about him, there is no leadership,” she says.

“I’ve never liked him, he can’t even get his own party behind him.

“I think Theresa May has done very well, she looks like a leader.”

She adds that the Tory leader’s modest background as a vicar’s daughter means that she is more in touch with the average voter than her Eton-educated predecessor.

Sitting next to her is her friend, Mavis Mellings. Unlike Christine, she has always been a Conservative voter, but her reasons for supporting Theresa May’s party are remarkably similar.

“We need a strong woman, and she looks like she believes in what she says,” says Mavis, who is 76.

Of course, The Wrekin, which has been held for the past 12 years by Conservative Mark Pritchard, is not natural Labour territory.

The seat represents quite a varied mix, taking in the market towns of Wellington, Newport and Shifnal, suburbs of Telford such as Leegomery and Donnington as well as Albrighton and its neighbouring villages. It has, in the past been held by Labour MPs Bruce (now Lord) Grocott and Peter Bradley – who defeated high-profile Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg in 2001. The once-marginal seat has been fairly safe Tory territory in recent years, with Mr Pritchard increasing his majority to 10,743 at the 2015 election.

Chris and Gary Hughes – sticking with Labour despite Corbyn

A few hundred yards from Mr Pritchard’s Church Street office, are lifelong Labour supporters Gary and Chris Hughes. Unlike former Labour voter Christine, they will not be changing their allegiance, and will vote Labour again. But they say this is despite, rather than because of the Labour leader.

“He can’t understand people and voters,” says Gary, who is 45.

Wife Chris, 61, adds: “Labour won’t win anything while he is still there.”

Browsing the garden plants outside a shop in New Street is George Smith, from Leegomery, who is not impressed that the election is taking place at all.

“It shouldn’t be happening,” he says. “Theresa May told her in Scotland she couldn’t have a referendum until Brexit has been sorted, and now she’s gone and called one herself.”

Sitting in the sun on her break from work is Lynne Colley, 62, from Oakengates.

A long-time Conservative voter, she is very impressed with the way Theresa May has taken command of her brief since becoming Prime Minister. “I think she’s doing a great job, she wants to stay as she is.”

Voting Tory, after a lifetime backing Labour – Judith Lane, 73

Her friend Judith Lane, 73, from Leegomery, is another lifelong Labour voter who is considering switching to the Conservatives, although she gives far from a ringing endorsement to any of the candidates. “I’m not impressed by any of them,” she says. “They spout off about things, they don’t carry it out, and then they spout off again.”

Over at The Strand hairdressers in Tan Bank, owner Caroline George is another former Labour voter who will be voting Conservative this time around.

“I have always been Labour, but things have changed, I’m now a small business owner so I will be voting Conservative,” she says.

Caroline says there has been a lot of talk among her customers about the campaign, with a wide variety of opinions.

“We have a broad range of customers, we have young people, and people right up to their 90s, and we get a wide range of opinions,” she says.

“I would say they are mainly Conservative, we do get a lot of big Conservative supporters here.”

Like many people, though, Caroline does demonstrate a deep scepticism of all politicians.

“I think in the end they will do what they want, and people like us just have to get on with it,” she says.

Irene Bentley, with husband Howard – undecided, but leaning towards Conservatives

Coming out of the indoor market are Howard Bentley, 84, and wife Irene, who is 82. The couple are the typical floating voters who all politicians want to court. But while they have yet to make up their mind for certain, it seems they too are leaning towards the Conservatives.

“In local elections we will vote for the person, regardless of party, but it is different with the national elections,” says Irene, who lives near Wellington town centre.

Her husband adds: “I have tended to vote Liberal because I couldn’t choose between Conservative or Labour, but I think this time I will vote Conservative.”

Irene says she is still mulling over her choice, but says she too is probably leaning towards the Conservatives. They are both happy with the performance of their MP, Mr Pritchard. “He seems all right,” says Irene.

This will all be music to the ears of Mrs May – and Mr Pritchard