THE waiting is over, the banners have been dusted off, the party faithful summoned and the ever-so-polite metaphorical daggers have been drawn.
In the Ludlow constituency this election will be close. The incumbent Lib Dem MP Matthew Green was sent to Westminster in 20001 on a slim majority of 1,630. Then he fought a Conservative with no Shropshire connections. Now, he is facing Philip Dunne - district councillor and scion of a local farming family.
In 2001 Labour in Ludlow polled only 5,785 votes - whether Nigel Knowles, the unsuccessful candidate improves on his vote remains to be seen. In the frame too are Jim Gaffney from Bishop's Castle (Green) and Church Stretton's Michael Zuckerman (UKIP).
In the Leominster constituency Tory MP Bill Wiggin defends a majority of 10,367. Last time his nearest challenger, polling 12,512 was Lib Dem's Celia Downie. Now it's Lib Dem's Caroline Williams along with Paul Bell (Lab); Felicity Norman (Green) and Peter Venables (UKIP) looking to upset Bill's apple-cart.
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