Britain’s Conservatives rule the Thames Estuary. Not for long
Our constituency poll in Gillingham and Rainham shows Labour on track for a thumping win
![The Strand, Gillingham.](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240622_BRP001.jpg)
On the evening of June 13th, St Margaret’s Church in Rainham was packed. At a long table in front of the altar, six would-be mps answered locals’ questions about schools, homelessness and the state of the high street. The Labour Party went through the church beforehand, putting leaflets on every pew, like orders of service. But despite the presence of so many voters and a tv camera, the Conservative candidate and sitting mp for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishti, did not turn up. He skipped another hustings four days later. If he loses the seat on July 4th, it will be partly for lack of trying.
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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Labour’s great expectations ”
Britain June 22nd 2024
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- The silence of the bedpans
- Britain’s Conservatives are losing as they governed. Meekly
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