Voters in Abingdon voted in the UK’s third general election in five years, and the second election in 2019. Key issues were Brexit and the NHS.

The vast majority of signs round Abingdon were Lib-Dem. The majority of the literature we received was also Lib-Dem.

There was surprisingly little literature from the Conservatives, and fewer Conservative signs than usual. There were no high profile visits.

Labour brought us a couple of leaflets.

There was one leaflet from the Brexit Party.

It was a wet polling day. The rain got heavier after about 10 am and eased off towards evening.

Umbrellas were common at the polling stations where there was little parking, including Trinity, and the Guildhall,

and St John’s Ambulance station.

There were fewer umbrellas where parking was easier. The tellers at Preston Road and Long Furlong told me there was a good turnout.

The road was blocked near the Northcourt Centre Polling Station as new gas mains are being put in.

Candidates for Oxford West & Abingdon were Layla Moran (Liberal Democrats), James Frederickson (Conservatives), Rosie Sourbut (Labour), and Allison Wild (Brexit Party).

The result was:
Layla Moran (Liberal Democrats) 31,340 votes (held seat)
James Frederickson (Conservatives) 22,397 votes
Rosie Sourbut (Labour) 4,258 votes
Allison Wild (Brexit Party) 829 votes.

The candidates for the Oxford West & Abingdon constituency in 2019 are:
James Fredrickson – Conservative
Layla Moran – Liberal Democrat
Rosie Sourbut – Labour
Allison Wild – Brexit Party.

All four were there to answer questions put by people from Abingdon. The event was organised by Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce, and the Church in Abingdon. There was a retiring collection for the Church in Abingdon to pay for putting on the event. Like the previous hustings in May 2017, the event was chaired by Chris Bryan who welcomed the four candidates and said “Here we are again.”

The evening began with each candidate saying how they came to be standing for parliament. This provided a personal introduction before we got into the politics.

Layla Moran had got into politics because, as a teacher, she could see the educational system was not being run to get the best outcomes for children.

James Fredrickson had come from an IT background and recognised that with better connectivity and use of technology care services could be run better. Carers could spent more time with people and less on the road.

Rosie Sourbut had volunteered at a foodbank and saw the effect of Universal Credit on people in desperate need.

Allison Wild was a businesswoman, and ended by saying she was inspired by Brexit and being able to trade with the world on good terms and not just Europe.

There were 7 questions asked during the evening. They were:

• What would your government do to make the world a safer place?
• How would your party’s policies help and support Abingdon Town Centre?
• There is a Climate Emergency. How would you fight to bring it to the top of the government agenda?
• Brexit could lead to the break up of the UK. Is the breakup of the UK more important than economic arguments?
• How would you improve the supply of affordable homes, help the homeless, and support people in private rental housing?
• What are your views on Abortion?
• How will your party pay for all its promises to the electorate, or are they impossible promises?

There were not many party activists in the hustings from what I could tell and there was not the usual partisan cheering or booing of candidates. Only the best answers got applause.

With just over a week remaining to the election activists are probably busy trying to reach people, not just in the hall, with leaflets and phone calls. The hall itself was only half full.

The big question about the Oxford-Cambridge expressway was not asked, and there was not a full-on Brexit question. No questions on the NHS or education either.

Abingdon is a marginal so your vote can make a difference between these four candidates.

There will be a husting for the general election on 2nd December. Questions need to be in by 28th November.

The candidates for the Oxford West & Abingdon constituency in 2019 are:
James Fredrickson – Conservative
Layla Moran – Liberal Democrat
Rosie Sourbut – Labour
Allison Wild – Brexit Party.

It may not be quite as exciting as the hustings in 1865, which I read about in the Reading Mercury in the British Newspaper Archive, but you never know, …

“On Monday last, the nomination of Candidates for the Representation of this County in Parliament, took place Abingdon. The hustings was erected in the Market-place, opposite the Queen’s Hotel. The windows at the County Hall, and every available space on the roof of the building, were crowded with ladies and gentlemen who appeared to take great interest in the proceedings. Special trains, engaged by both the Liberal and Conservative candidates, brought a considerable number of electors from all parts of the county, and although there was an absence of flags and banners, and even bands of music, the Market-place presented a lively and exciting appearance. The Conservatives mustered in great strength at the Crown and Thistle Hotel, and were first to march to the hustings. The Liberal candidates and their friends quickly followed from the Queen’s Hotel, and both parties were received with cheers from their supporters. During the progress of the proceedings, many noisy interruptions occurred, and the Conservative party were certainly not so courteous to the speakers on the Liberal side as their opponents were during the delivery of the Conservative addresses. It was evident that the Conservatives had done their utmost to bring together a large body of men, and it was also evident that some of their party possessed stentorian voices, which were freely and coarsely used to drown the unpleasant and distasteful remarks of gentlemen on ‘the other side.’ …”

Boris Johnson is to be the next Prime Minister. I see on his facebook page that he has been in Abingdon more than once. In 2015 he said ‘Brilliant to be back in Abingdon campaigning for Nicolas Blackwood.’ Nicola was the Conservatives MP for Abingdon from 2010 to 2017.

On another facebook post I did see that Conservative MP for Aberdeen, Ross Thomson, said ‘Boris Johnson as PM will do for the whole of our country what he did for London as Mayor. From Aberdeen to Aberystwyth; Abingdon to Antrim.’