The constituency of Stafford became a possible Labour gain at the boundary changes before the last election when 23,000 mainly rural voters were moved to the new Stone constituency. In a wise move the local euro-sceptic Conservative MP Bill Cash decided to follow them, avoiding, given the national landslide, what would have been inevitable defeat. In the event the swing in Stafford was slightly below average, but even this could not stop former local councillor David Kidney winning the seat for Labour for the first time since their first national landslide in 1945.

The constituency still includes some territory outside its main town, but much of this is centred on Penkridge where Labour could still win the odd council seat in 1999. The town of Stafford itself is politically marginal and although Labour have a number of strong wards, they lost control of the council in 1999. The Conservatives were also 12% ahead in the Euro elections and their parliamentary hopeful Philip Cochrane will be able to count on areas of strength to the south east of Stafford beyond the River Penk and some rural areas running down to Penkridge. A close battle is on on the cards.

Parliamentary Statistics pre-Election 2001

Labour majority 4,314 (8.3%)  Conservative target 64
MP David Kidney
1997 (Turnout 76.6%)
Labour	24,606	47.5%
Conservative	20,292	39.2%
Liberal Democrat	5,480	10.6%
Referendum	1,146	2.2%
Other	248	0.5%

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For Stafford 2001 Election result - click here.