Lib Dems in confident mood
A confident Liberal Democrat party has ruled out doing any deal with other opposition parties in the battle for the Maidstone and Weald constituency at the General Election.
In accordance with its party’s national approach the Maidstone Green party contacted both the Lib Dems and Labour to see if they were interested in forming a progressive alliance to counter the Conservatives, but received a rejection from the Liberal Democrats.
Cllr Rob Bird, who is running the campaign for the Lib Dem candidate Emily Fermor, said: “We are fighting on our own merits. We are happy to receive support from any quarter, but we are not going into any kind of electoral pact.”
Cllr Bird was cheered by a resurgence in membership of his party, adding: “There’s been a huge increase in the number joining in the last week or so.”
In 2015, Helen Grant retained Maidstone and the Weald for the Tories with a 10,709 majority. Her six opponents together polled 4,520 more votes then her.
Stuart Jeffery, who has since been selected to be the Green party candidate expressed his disgust at the Lib Dem’s refusal to even consider a pact.
He said: “Everything was on the table for discussion. One option might have been fielding a single candidate on behalf of the Greens, Lib Dems and Labour.
“Another option could have been for us not to field a candidate here, and the Lib Dems to withdraw elsewhere, Faversham and Mid Kent for example.”
It will be Mr Jeffery’s second attempt at standing for Maidstone, previously contesting Canterbury.
Yesterday (Wednesday), the Lib Dems announced Dave Naghi, businessman and Maidstone councillor as the parliamentary candidate for Faversham and Mid Kent.