Sidcup voters for Tory seat 'wouldn't trust Kier Starmer'

The Old Bexley and Sidcup seat has been regarded as a Conservative stronghold for the capital since its creation in 1983.

Data from Election Polling stated that a swing of over 20 per cent would be required for the party to lose its hold on the area in this week’s election.

Pat Slonbcki, 68, has lived in Sidcup for 30 years and cited the cost of living crisis and education as her priorities for the next government.

Sidcup

She added that she felt Keir Starmer was ‘not strong enough’ to put up with the pressure he may face from the far left.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I quite like [Rishi Sunak]. I feel sorry for him, I think he’s got a bit of a poisoned chalice. I think he does have integrity, unfortunately he’s not surrounded by people who have similar integrity.”

Gerry Egan, 56, claimed to have lived in the area his whole life.

He said he had little interest in politics as all previous governments had shown the same ‘corruption and ineptitude’.

He told the LDRS: “I’m out of the punk generation so I don’t have any faith in any of them and they are all trite.”

He added: “There are better things in life to worry about than politicians… [Keir Starmer] is in it for the wrong ends. I wouldn’t let him run a bath, let alone the country.”

Ella Dadswell, 60, said she felt she was becoming more of a socialist as she aged, contrary to her more conservative peers.

She said Rishi Sunak appeared ‘out of touch’ and businesses in the local area had suffered over the years of successive Conservative governments.

She told the LDRS: “I’m very concerned about my nephew. He got hammered with his mortgage because of Liz Truss, absolutely hammered, and she’s getting away with it. So I’m really in favour of what the young people vote for because it’s their future.”

The prevalent Conservative seats in South East London also represent an opportunity for other parties such as Reform UK to garner support.

Electoral Calculus data suggested that the right-wing group could take up to 20 per cent of the vote in the Old Bexley and Sidcup seat at this year’s election.

Tony Robert, 66, moved to Sidcup 10 years ago.

Tony Robert

He claimed that Rishi Sunak appears ‘out of his depth’ in his current role and he was not convinced Keir Starmer would be able to handle key issues such as immigration and NHS waiting lists.

He told the LDRS: “It’s a more Conservative area. I think there is a considerable risk, if you see it in those terms, that there will be a significant Reform vote here. It could split that small-c Conservative voter.”

Steve Wood, 66, has lived in Sidcup for 40 years. He said that Reform UK was a threat in any area with a Conservative majority, but felt the party was ‘too extreme’ for Sidcup.

He told the LDRS: “I think it just needs to be a more balanced government in general, not too extreme either way.

"I think the current government has gone too far right and I think there’s a danger that we could end up with unlimited and unfettered power in a Labour government.”