Out-of-town Tories to contest city seats at General Election
THE Tories’ two General Election candidates for Coventry are from Kent and London, it has been revealed.
The Conservative Party has confirmed that Michelle Lowe, deputy leader of Sevenoaks District Council, in Kent, will stand in Coventry South. She finished second in Coventry North East in 2015.
Ms Lowe will be joined by Resham Kotecha, from London, who will stand in Coventry North West having previously failed to win the Dulwich and West Norwood seat for the Conservatives.
The announcement came after Earlsdon councillor Allan Andrews, an early favourite to stand in Coventry South, ruled out running for Parliament due to family commitments and will instead fight to become deputy leader of the local Conservative Party. Fellow councillor Gary Ridley has also ruled himself out of the running for any of the Coventry seats and will bid to become leader of the Conservative group on Coventry City Council this month.
The Tories have not yet announced who will stand against Labour MP Colleen Fletcher in Coventry North East.
Labour’s other sitting MPs in Coventry, Geoffrey Robinson and Jim Cunningham, will defend their seats in Coventry North West and Coventry South respectively.
Mike Ballinger, deputy chairman of Coventry Federation Conservatives, said: “Local Conservatives are delighted to have chosen both Michelle and Resham to contest these two city seats.
“The pair will champion Coventry in Westminster and fight for the investment and support our city deserves as well as campaigning on key local issues like protecting our green belt.
“Coventry overwhelmingly voted for Britain to leave the European Union - our city and country now needs the strong and stable leadership of Theresa May to get the best Brexit deal possible and lock in our economic progress.
“Residents will only be able to get this by voting Conservative, and for Michelle and Resham, on June 8 – the alternative of Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street, propped up by the SNP and others, is not even worth contemplating.”