MURMURINGS that the wheels are in motion at the Northampton South Conservative Association could be a little premature if Aufona’s sources are correct.
A couple of weeks ago, after it became pretty obvious The Mack was lining up Bran Eldred as his number two at the Guildhall, we intimated he might well be a shoo-in for the bigger job of Conservative candidate at the next General Election.
But the fact remains that Binners, who turns 71 on Easter Monday, hasn’t even started to consider his future because he is – quite rightly – concentrating on beating the illness which he announced at the turn of the year, ahead of a six-month treatment programme. He remains busy – he had two meetings with the Prime Minister this week alone, one social, one business and shows no real signs of letting up not least on the Northampton Alive regeneration drive which, friends say, he fully intends to push ahead with gusto until May 2015, regardless of what his political future holds, because of the potential effect it could have on Northampton for generations to come.
Indeed Aufona understands Binners is unlikely to make any decision on his future before the middle of June or early July and, crucially, has the backing of the association if he intends to fight another term.
Other sources have also pointed out that – if Binners were to stand aside – The Mack is not an automatic choice. Around 75 candidates applied to be the PPC for Northampton South in 2005 and there’s every reason to think it could be a Tory target seat (to defend) this time around too. While The Mack has his undoubted connections in Westminster (PICKLES!) there’s a long way to go. Or maybe not if the Big Man decides to go for it later this year. Watch this space...
PS: Labour is reportedly going to be piling in the resources into getting David Palethorpe elected in The Mack’s county council constituency, Billing and Rectory Farm. Meanwhile, Danielle Stone – who has been allegedly keeping the Northampton South Labour Party very much on its toes of late – will be standing in Abington and Phippsville.
NEVER underestimate the geographical skills of people. In a statement the other day on the closure of the Early Learning Centre store in Market Walk, the company told us: “We hope this has not upset any customers and that they will continue to shop at our ELC store in Horsham, West Sussex”. Rather than the St James Retail Park then...
ADIEU to Slugger Church, who’s standing down from the county council – and all frontline politics in Northampton – after about three centuries services. We always admired his streetfighter approach to politics, he was a proper adversary, but his powers seem to have diminished since that Clegg bloke popped up alongside a Tory Prime Minister. Farewell too to Dick Giddings. Four years was probably enough. Time for a rest now...