Lib Dems vote for Clive as MP candidate

WITH the General Election now two years away, the Liberal Democrats have announced their candidate for the Wokingham parliamentary constituency, and he says he is “determined” to win the seat away from Sir John Redwood.

Cllr Clive Jones, current leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrat Group on Wokingham Borough Council, has been selected.

At the last general election, former Bracknell Conservative MP Dr Phillip Lee stood for the Liberal Democrats having crossed the floor over Europe.

He took 38% of the vote, reducing the share of Conservative MP Sir John Redwood to less than 50%.

Now, the party has said that the Wokingham parliamentary seat, which includes parts of West Berkshire, is part of its ‘Blue Wall’ targets, arguing that the seat is a two-horse race between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems. It follows on from the party’s success in the Chesham and Amersham byelection.

However, the Wokingham seat has always been held by the Conservatives and Sir John has been the MP since 1987.

In a statement, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey MP, said that Cllr Jones would make a “fantastic” MP for Wokingham.

Cllr Jones has lived in the area for 40 years and was elected to the borough council in 2016.

Sir Ed, leader of the national party, said: “In Clive the Liberal Democrats have selected the polar opposite to an out-of-touch Conservative MP.

“Clive is well-known for working tirelessly for local people. He listens to people and takes up their concerns.

“Meanwhile, the Conservative party ignores local people, unfairly hikes taxes on hard-pressed families and stands by a law-breaking Prime Minister.

“Clive will make a fantastic local MP for Wokingham and I can’t wait to join him on the campaign trail in what will be a close two horse race at the next election.”

And Cllr Jones said: ““People in Wokingham are fed up with being taken for granted by the Conservative party.

“I am determined to finally oust a Conservative party that never listens to people in Wokingham.”

Wokingham Conservatives were invited to comment on the Lib Dem’s claims, but had not done so as we went to press.