THE CONSERVATIVES are calling for “help” as over 500 Labour supporters prepare to launch their campaign to ‘Unseat Iain Duncan Smith’.
According to a letter, believed to be from the local Tory association, the Conservative MP is preparing himself for a fight from the “hordes of Momentum”.
For 47 years the area has remained Tory, but Labour now has its sights set on turning the whole of Waltham Forest red.
The campaign will see left-wing columnist Owen Jones and Labour’s losing candidate Bilal Mahmood head to Hatch Lane, in Chingford, this Sunday – and 500 people are set to join them.
On the event’s page, Mr Jones wrote: “A general election could happen at any moment. It could be this year.
"Jeremy Corbyn has asked us to be on a permanent general election. We can only defeat Iain Duncan Smith if we campaign now.”
In a later post on social media, the Guardian writer shared a letter allegedly from Mr Duncan Smith to his party faithful.
Oh wow: Iain Duncan Smith has sent this to his party. He is officially rattled. So join us, July 9th! https://t.co/rPcPYf319x #UnseatIDS pic.twitter.com/2pADozmzNl
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) June 30, 2017
Mr Duncan Smith’s office has since confirmed the letter did not come from him, and they believe it came from the local Tory association without his permission.
The letter reads: “Following the General Election result, Labour are stepping up their campaigning in Chingford & Woodford Green – we need your help to fight back.
“On July the 9th the various hordes of Momentum, Owen Jones’ Peoples’ Assembly and the local Labour party are coming to Chingford thinking they’re going to 'Unseat IDS'.
“We plan to be ahead of them.”
The letter says Mr Duncan Smith plans to remind Chingford residents about the Labour-led council’s plan to close Hale End Library in Highams Park and “botched” implementation of CPZs.
The letter adds: “Hopefully by the time the Labour lot get to speak to residents they’ll be on the back foot trying to defend the indefensible.”
You have to go back 72 years to the end of the Second World War to find a general election more marginal than last month’s.
In 1945, Leah Manning narrowly won it for Labour by 987 votes, when Chingford was part of the abolished Epping constituency.
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