St Ives
2010 Results:
Conservative: 17900 (38.98%)
Labour: 3751 (8.17%)
Liberal Democrat: 19619 (42.72%)
UKIP: 2560 (5.57%)
Green: 1308 (2.85%)
Others: 783 (1.71%)
Majority: 1719 (3.74%)
Notional 2005 Results:
Liberal Democrat: 21323 (50.1%)
Conservative: 11749 (27.6%)
Labour: 5775 (13.6%)
Other: 3677 (8.6%)
Majority: 9574 (22.5%)
Actual 2005 result
Conservative: 13968 (27.7%)
Labour: 6583 (13.1%)
Liberal Democrat: 25577 (50.7%)
Green: 1738 (3.4%)
UKIP: 2551 (5.1%)
Majority: 11609 (23%)
2001 Result
Conservative: 15360 (31.2%)
Labour: 6567 (13.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 25413 (51.6%)
UKIP: 1926 (3.9%)
Majority: 10053 (20.4%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 16796 (31.2%)
Labour: 8184 (15.2%)
Liberal Democrat: 23966 (44.5%)
Referendum: 3714 (6.9%)
Other: 1241 (2.3%)
Majority: 7170 (13.3%)
Boundary changes:
Profile:
Current MP: Andrew George(Liberal Democrat) born 1958, Cornwall. Educated at Helston Grammar and Sussex University. Former deputy director of Cornwall rural council. Contested St Ives 1992. First elected as MP for St Ives in 1997. Agriculture spokesman 1997-1999, social security spokesman 1999-2001, PPS to Charles Kennedy 2001-2002, Lib Dem Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary 2002-2005, Lib Dem Shadow secretary of state for International Development 2005-2007. A former member of Mebyon Kernow and reliable supporter of all things Cornish, he was the first MP to take the oath in Cornish (more information at They work for you)
2010 election candidates: 
Derek Thomas (Conservative) born 1972. Development worker. Penwith district councillor.
Philippa Latimer (Labour) born 1983, Hertfordshire. Educated at the University of Sussex. Policy officer for the National House Building Council.
Andrew George(Liberal Democrat) born 1958, Cornwall. Educated at Helston Grammar and Sussex University. Former deputy director of Cornwall rural council. Contested St Ives 1992. First elected as MP for St Ives in 1997. Agriculture spokesman 1997-1999, social security spokesman 1999-2001, PPS to Charles Kennedy 2001-2002, Lib Dem Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary 2002-2005, Lib Dem Shadow secretary of state for International Development 2005-2007. A former member of Mebyon Kernow and reliable supporter of all things Cornish, he was the first MP to take the oath in Cornish (more information at
They work for you)
Tim Andrewes (Green) Born 1966, Southampton. Educated at Shrewsbury School and Oxford University. Rural transport advisor. South Shropshire councillor 1995-2001. Contested Oxford and Buckinghamshire 1989 European election, Ludlow 1997.
Mick Faulkner (UKIP) Educated at Eastfields School. Builder and retired fisherman. Contested St Ives 1997 for the Referendum party, 2001, 2005 for UKIP. Contested South West region in European elections in 1999, 2004.
Simon Reed (Mebyon Kernow) Former Penwith councillor for the Liberal Democrats.
Jonathan Rogers (Cornish Democrats) Educated at Cambridge University. Director of a publishing and a manufacturing firm.
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 82305
Male: 48.3%
Female: 51.7%
Under 18: 20.3%
Over 60: 27.1%
Born outside UK: 3.5%
White: 99%
Asian: 0.2%
Mixed: 0.5%
Other: 0.2%
Christian: 73.2%
Full time students: 1.9%
Graduates 16-74: 16.8%
No Qualifications 16-74: 27.8%
Owner-Occupied: 69.4%
Social Housing: 12.5% (Council: 2%, Housing Ass.: 10.5%)
Privately Rented: 12.9%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 23.1%
NB - Candidates lists are provisional, based on candidates declared before the campaign. They will be updated to reflect the final list of candidates as soon as possible following the close of nominations.
One thing that strikes me about the Conservatives’ campaign so far is the number of glossy leaflets and expensively targeted letters arriving at local homes from Tory HQ in London. As we know, there is a legal limit to the amount any political party can spend on their election campaign: in the St Ives constituency this is around £11,800 for each candidate. It seems that in sending out the above communications, the local Conservatives have found a way to sidestep this rule and carry on spending as much as they like in St Ives. They simply keep deluging the area with letters from David Cameron or George Osborne without charging any of it to their candidate’s expense account.
I think this should be investigated and stopped. Do we really want US-style elections where only the most wealthy can buy their way to power? Should the Conservatives be allowed to get away with this blatant attempt to ‘buy’ a political seat? Surely there should be one rule for all.
The Cornishman did really top itself by claiming it’s Internet poll was realistically a true sample of voters in the area.
The fact you can clear your cache and vote multiple times failed to register with them, it’s sort of like those poll add on’s on local news stories.
By the way it showed Derek Thomas ahead but if you try it for 5 mins I’m sure you could get any number of the candiates to the top.
Right I attended a debate tonight with the main 5 parties involved apparently MK’s was having an operation so didn’t turn up.
This will be broadcast next wednesday on Lawrence Reed’s show here in Cornwall. I think The Green’s went well, George went on too much, Thomas was badly affected by sticking to the party line far too well. But if it is really a two horse race then George wiped the floor of Thomas.
The two most impressive were Labour and Ukip nethier of which will be representing the seat for their party, I dislike UKIP alot but the guy took it on the chin well.
Lib Dem Hold
Maj 8400
LD maj 5,500
The prospect of a balanced Parliament seems to be an increasing possibility after Nick Clegg’s performance in the live debate. Surely this is good news for Cornwall is it not? The Lib Dem MPs who are standing in this election, like Andrew George, are experienced politicians and would be able to do even more for their constituencies if their party holds the balance of power.
LD Hold with an 8K majority.
Its about time I did what all the regulars here seem to do and make predictions for all the seats.. I’ll do it Geograpically.. I’ve been trying to work out a ‘model’ of how to reach these calculations , but really need an Excel spreadsheet with all the ‘notional’ results from 2005 .. I can’t find one to download and certainly can’t be bothered to make one up myself..
Anyway i start SW and move up and out, and I’m always interested in St. Ives because A. George’s brother 9and sister in law) are friends of mine from Uni (quite indepenedt of my own party membership)…
I can’t see much change here.. I doubt the LD vote will go oup in proportion to the rise in national vote as it must be quite close to max possible.. and UKIP are likely to perform well in Cornwall
LD 26.5K
Con 13.5K
Lab 5K
UKIP 3.5K
Maj 13K
LD HOLD
Just…..
Andrew George’s majority slashed on a 10% swing:
Andrew George Liberal Democrat 19,619 42.7 -9.1
Derek Thomas Conservative 17,900 39.0 +11.7
Philippa Latimer Labour 3,751 8.2 -4.4
Mick Faulkner UK Independence Party 2,560 5.6 +1.3
Tim Andrewes Green 1,308 2.8 -1.1
Jonathan Rogers Cornish Democrats 396 0.9 +0.9
Simon Reed Mebyon Kernow 387 0.8 +0.8
Majority 1,719 3.7
Turnout 45,921 68.6 +0.8
Expenses…and MK presence minimal…