Louise Bagshawe is the conservative candidate who will be running against Phil Hope. After studying English at Oxford, she was a marketing person for Sony Records, before giving up her job to pursue a career as an author. She has since published many successful books, including Career Girls and Glamour. Inspired to become a politician by Lady Margaret Thatcher, she has been involved in politics since she was twelve. She briefly joined the Labour Party because she originally thought that Tony Blair actually represented Conservative issues, but disappointed in him, she rejoined the Conservative Party in 1997. She was posted on the Conservative A-list ahead of the next general election.

During the Oundle Chronicle interview, Louise said she wants to “work on getting Northants a fair deal from central government. Under Labour the county is constantly short-changed.” She predicts that the Conservative Party will win the next election, and take advantage of the “Rubbish” leadership of Gordon Brown. “Under Brown the Conservatives have hit 15 year highs in the polls.”

Corby however, she says, is not so simple. “It will be a fight to the finish and every vote will count.” When I asked her about her opinion on David Cameron, she said, “I both like and respect him. The amazing turnaround in the poll position of the party speaks for itself. David sticks to his guns.” Under him, the Conservatives have the “courage to stand up to critics and take hard decisions, something Brown notoriously lacks”. According to Ms Bagshawe the Labour Party is more concerned with retaining power then running the country. Labour MPs also tend to serve their party not their constituency. “A true MP will always remember that he or she is elected to serve their constituency. Conservatism is about trusting the individual and this means a roll-back against the ‘Nanny State’.”

On the key issues Ms Bagshawe believes in the gradual reform of the House of Lords, but an end to hereditary peers. When referring to the election system she says, “Our system is not perfect, but it’s better than the alternatives”. She believes that America is important, “We must be a loyal friend and ally, but not a lap-dog.” She is a Eurosceptic, “but not to the point of total withdrawal.” She also points out that the level of spin in politics is disgraceful. “And Brown’s as bad as Blair.” She is currently working on repealing the Hunting Ban and has already proved her loyalty and ability by working with “Oundle Under Threat” to modify development that would have greatly increased traffic in the town. “Oundle is a jewel, and as MP I will be concerned to protect it from overdevelopment as far as I am able.”