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With seven or so months to go before an expected General Election, many seats are going to change hands whether MP's are victims of an unpopular Labour government or they have been caught out in the expenses scandal. The London Daily News is profiling the London constituencies and candidates that could make all the difference come election day - This week we are in Edmonton Andrew Charalambous, Conservative candidate for Edmonton is ready for battle against Andy Love the local Labour MP, in what is being described as a “defining” contest for the Conservatives in London. Edmonton is preparing itself for an epic battle at the next general election with the newly anointed Conservative parliamentary candidate Andrew Charalambous in chipper mood over his chances to overturn the 8,075 majority held by the embattled Labour MP Andy Love. Charalambous who bravely fought against the late Bernie Grant in 1992 for the Tories in his early twenties, 17 years hence is a wiser and a more "adept" politician according to his aides. One of his team even described him as a "street-fighter" and the "right sort of man for Edmonton". "The campaign is going to be fought hard on the unacceptable state of the economy, the level of serious crime on Edmonton streets and the environment; an area I work hard to highlight and the need to conserve our planet", Andrew Charalmbous speaking to the London Daily News. The Conservatives in Edmonton face nevertheless a massive task to unseat Andy Love and will need a huge swing in the vote from Labour to Conservative if Charalambous is to stand a chance; with hopes that the Conservative vote goes out and votes and that Labour voters stay at home. Early skirmishes have commenced in the Cypriot community, (Charalambous a Greek-Cypriot by parentage), is playing a leading role in building bridges between the Turkish and Greek communities of the capital. One Greek-Cypriot newspaper came out publicly last week to endorse Charalambous candidacy, only for a hard-left newspaper from the same community to strongly denounce his credentials. Meanwhile Charalambous enjoys strong links within Edmonton's and north London's Turkish community and has said on the record that he wants to see Turkey "in Europe" if all the criteria and chapters set out by Brussels is satisfied. "Through dialogue and understanding of each others positions we in London can help accelerate a meaningful and just solution for Cyprus and Turkish entry into the EU". One senior Conservative source in north London said: "If we win Edmonton then its curtains for Labour, Andrew will fight hard I am sure but it will be extremely tough for us to win here, you never know, anything is possible in politics". "Team Andy" as it has been described will involve all facets of Edmonton society and will according to sources close to Charalambous underline the diversity within that part of north London to give the Conservatives a “fighting chance” to win. photo credit: London Daily News
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