Swinson: We will not stand down for Labour Remainers
JO SWINSON has denied that she is losing control of her candidates, despite a growing revolt among members who want the party to stand aside in favour of Labour Remainers.
The Lib Dem leader declared that she would field candidates in both Canterbury – where one Lib Dem stood down to avoid splitting the Remainer vote with Labour – and in David Gauke’s South West Hertfordshire constituency, where the Remain-supporting former Justice Secretary is standing as an independent.
Tim Walker, a former journalist, announced on Tuesday that he would not stand in Canterbury in order to avoid the “nightmare” of handing the constituency back to the Conservatives.
He was supported by Guy Kiddey, the Lib Dem contesting the marginal High Peak seat in Derbyshire, who threatened to stand down if the party did not drop disciplinary proceedings against Mr Walker.
Mr Kiddey, who works in corporate communications, said he wanted to show solidarity with Mr Walker, and warned that if he campaigned hard in High Peak, he would split the vote and the Conservative candidate would win.
Asked if she was losing control of candidates, Ms Swinson said: “No, clearly as Liberal Democrats we are committed to stopping Brexit. Some candidates make their own decisions. If they choose not to be a candidate, there are lots of people determined to stand as Liberal Democrat candidates.”
Asked why the Lib Dems would not stand down to boost the chances of Labour pro-remain candidate Rosie Duffield in Canterbury, she said the Lib Dems were the only party committed to preventing Brexit.
“I like Rosie and I will happily work with Rosie, but she is standing on a manifesto that is committed to negotiating Brexit,” she said. “Labour has said they are not a Remain party and it’s important that people have a vote for a party that is about remaining.”
She said the party had agreed a pact with Plaid Cymru and the Greens to stand aside in 60 seats to give a free run to whichever party had the best chance of winning. The Lib Dems were also standing aside for Remain MPS such as Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry, both former Tories.
Ms Swinson was speaking in north London, where she sparred at a boxing club to promote the party’s anti-knife crime package of £500 million for youth services.