THE OUTCOME of the General Election battle for power in the City of Chester constituency will serve as a political pointer to who will run the country after May 6.

As a key marginal seat, number 22 on the Conservative target list, all eyes will be on Chester over the next month as Cestrians make their minds up and cast their votes.

Chester’s Tory chiefs are hoping the same wind of change that propelled the former city councillor Christine Russell into parliament in 1997 will sweep in Stephen Mosley also a former Chester city councillor, in 2010.

Within hours of the election being called the Tory parliamentary candidate announced in a statement that nothing less than victory will do.

He bears David Cameron’s weighty political ambitions upon his shoulders.

He said: “The maths is simple. If the Conservatives don’t win Chester then Gordon Brown remains Prime Minister.”

Chester’s Labour group is hoping to hold the fort and defend the narrow 997 vote majority that Ms Russell secured in 2005.

It will be a hard-fought contest and expect to see David Cameron and Gordon Brown and other heavyweights detouring to Chester before the big day..

Chester voters enjoy a good political tussle and their voting patterns have left political analysts scratching their heads and bought many a politician crashing down to earth.

Those who thought Chester was a Tory city were confounded in 1997 when the city turned red and ushered in Tony Blair.

Likewise when former Communities Minister Hazel Blears replaced the six district and county councils with a unitary authority in 2008 she was rewarded by a massive Tory landslide with 55 Conservative councillors voted in compared to 13 Labour members.

Doorstepping candidates will have to be well versed with the big constituency issues – the recession, culture, the absence of a local football club to name but a few.

The constituencies of Weaver Vale, Ellesmere Port & Neston, Eddisbury, Crewe and Halton will also be hard fought seats with the percentage swing closely scrutinised.

The colour of Cheshire on May 6 will be a clear indication of the political make-up of the House of Commons.