CHESTER is widely seen as a key marginal and a must-win seat if the Conservatives are to gain power at this election.
Christine Russell is hoping to retain the seat for Labour, and is defending a majority of just 915, compared with 10,553 in 1997 when she became Chester’s MP.
Mrs Russell had previously been a councillor in the city and Sheriff of Chester in 1992 before unseating Tory Gyles Brandreth when Tony Blair was swept to power.
Aiming to retake the seat for the Conservatives is Stephen Moseley, formerly deputy leader of Chester City Council until it was replaced by Cheshire West and Chester Council, and he was selected by the party in 2007 as its candidate for the next General Election.
As a key marginal seat, number 22 on the Conservative target list, all eyes will be on Mr Moseley and Chester over the next week as Cestrians make their minds up and cast their votes.
However, the recent surge by the Liberal Democrats in the polls could easily disrupt the two main parties’ calculations.
Standing for the Lib-Dems is Lizzie Jewkes, a former magistrate who take a keen interest in criminal justice and like her Tory counterpart is in favour of taking a hard-line on law-breakers.
