City of Chester
Notional 2005 Results:
Labour: 17088 (38.8%)
Conservative: 16275 (37%)
Liberal Democrat: 9611 (21.8%)
Other: 1063 (2.4%)
Majority: 813 (1.8%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 16543 (36.8%)
Labour: 17458 (38.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 9818 (21.9%)
UKIP: 776 (1.7%)
Other: 308 (0.7%)
Majority: 915 (2%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 14866 (33.1%)
Labour: 21760 (48.5%)
Liberal Democrat: 6589 (14.7%)
UKIP: 899 (2%)
Other: 763 (1.7%)
Majority: 6894 (15.4%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 19253 (34.2%)
Labour: 29806 (53%)
Liberal Democrat: 5353 (9.5%)
Referendum: 1487 (2.6%)
Other: 358 (0.6%)
Majority: 10553 (18.8%)
Boundary changes: only minor changes. Loses small parts of Elton to Ellesmere Port and Tattenhall and Waverton to Cheshire. These are all rural parts of larger split wards, and the changes may actually be better for Labour than the raw figures suggest.
Profile: the seat covers Chester itself and surrounding villages. Chester is a historic walled market town in Cheshire. During the industrial revolution Chester became an upmarket residential town for the upper classes fleeing the industiral sprawl of Manchester and Liverpool and like much of Cheshire it is a relatively affluent area. However, Labour support in housing estates like Blacon and Lache make Chester into a marginal seat. Conservative for most of the twentieth century, Chester fell to Labour in the 1997 landslide, unseated the television celebrity Gyles Brandreth.
Outgoing MP: Christine Russell(Labour) born 1945, Holbeach. Educated at Spalding High School and NW London Polytechnic. Librarian. Former Chester councillor, assistant to Lyndon Harrison MEP and co-ordinator for Mind. First elected as MP for Chester in 1997 (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: 
Stephen Mosley (Conservative) Cheshire county councillor since 2005. Chester councillor since 2000. Deputy leader of the Conservative group on Chester city councilChristine Russell(Labour) born 1945, Holbeach. Educated at Spalding High School and NW London Polytechnic. Librarian. Former Chester councillor, assistant to Lyndon Harrison MEP and co-ordinator for Mind. First elected as MP for Chester in 1997 (more information at They work for you)
Lizzie Jewkes (Liberal Democrat) Educated at Newarke Girls Grammar School and University of East London. Founder of a washable nappy company. Contested Vale of Clwyd 2005, Ellesmere Port and Neston 1992.
Tom Barker (Green) Scientist, providing scientific advice to local, national and international governmental bodies. Contested City of Chester 1992.
Allan Weddell (UKIP) Educated at St Peters, Southbourn. Managing director of a family filing products company. Contested North West Region in 1999 European elections. Contested City of Chester 2001, 2005.
Ed Abrams (English Democrat) Contested Hartlepool by-election 2004, Northwest 2004 European elections, City of Chester 2005, Monmouth 2007 Welsh assembly elections, North West 2009 European elections.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 88739
Male: 47.9%
Female: 52.1%
Under 18: 20.6%
Over 60: 22.7%
Born outside UK: 5.6%
White: 97.7%
Black: 0.2%
Asian: 0.8%
Mixed: 0.7%
Other: 0.6%
Christian: 76.8%
Muslim: 0.7%
Full time students: 5.8%
Graduates 16-74: 27.5%
No Qualifications 16-74: 24.4%
Owner-Occupied: 70.4%
Social Housing: 16.7% (Council: 7.1%, Housing Ass.: 9.6%)
Privately Rented: 9.3%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 7.6%
One only has to have lived in Chester to realize that this seat will never escape from the Conservative party for good. Christine Russell has had her time, but Labour will bounce back after the next general election
I agree, having lived in Chester for years (and years ago before I became disillusioned and cynical with party politics canvassed a bit for labour); this seat will always be a pretty marginal bellweather seat, and never out of reach for either Labour or Tories.
I can’t quite see the Tories doing a clean sweep in Cheshire at the next general election; i’d be surprised if for instance they won Ellesmere Port, though that could be close I’d expect Labour to hold on. Weaver Vale would be close also. Chester though as i’ve posted earlier on the thread; Tories should win with comfort next time by about 5,000.
My Prediction:
Conservative: 21000
Labour: 14000
Liberal Democrat: 7000
“I can’t quite see the Tories doing a clean sweep in Cheshire at the next general election”
Even if Ellesmere Port & Neston and Weaver Vale went to the Tories, which is by no means certain, I don’t see labour losing Halton or Warrington North, which can both be considered safe Labour seats
Warrington South should be a straighforward Tory gain, as should this seat, with a majority exceeding 5,000
Is Ed Abrams the leader of the English Dems?
Lancs Observer,
The leader of the English Democrats is Robin TIlbrook he lives in my ward and contests elections in Epping Forest District.
tom barker is green party candidate for city of chester
Here’s an opportunity to “declare” this seat, and contribute to the overall prediction for 2010
http://hungparliament2010.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-undermentioned-hereby-give-notice.html