It has been confirmed this morning that the news OnTheWight reported last Saturday (2nd November) that Isle of Wight Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate will be standing aside at the General Election in an arrangement agreed with the Green Party.
‘Unite to Remain’
The Green Party announced the news this morning (Thursday) saying,
As a result of an arrangement negotiated with input from local parties, the local Lib Dem candidate has stepped aside on the Isle of Wight. It means Vix Lowthion will run uncontested by another Remainer on 12th December.
The agreement – facilitated by the cross-party group Unite to Remain – provides a big boost to the Green Party candidate who has seen her support rise substantially over the last two elections
Lowthion: “Brexit has been a shambles”
Vix Lowthion, who is a secondary school teacher, said:
“I’m delighted that people are uniting behind the campaign to elect a Green MP for the Isle of Wight. Brexit has been a shambles. It’s time to bring it to an end and move on to tackling other issues. I support a People’s Vote so the people can make the final decision and I will campaign for Remain.
“The big parties in Westminster have let us down. As Green MP I won’t be whipped and will be free to speak up for the best interests of the Island. Greens here have the best possible chance of winning the seat. We need more influence in Parliament to hold other parties to account and push for the really bold actions that are needed to make Britain fairer and tackle the climate crisis.
“That means protecting the countryside, fighting to keep local services on the Island and challenging ferry costs which are too high. Crucially it also means investing in green industries to provide jobs on the Island as well as improving our environment.”
Adams: Putting country’s interest before Party
Isle of Wight Lib Dem party Chair, Anni Adams, said,
“Brexit is a national crisis. This ground breaking agreement, facilitated by the Unite to Remain campaign group, will help to secure more Remain supporting MPs in the next Parliament.
“On the Island, that means that we have decided to stand aside for this General Election. Due to our broken voting system, both of us standing might split the significant Remain vote in our area. We are proud to be putting our country’s interest before our Party. We thank the Green Party and Plaid Cymru for their decision to stand aside in many Lib Dem target seats.
“It is deeply disappointing that Labour Remainers would not step up too, but they failed the test on backing a People’s Vote and they failed the test to build a new Remain Parliament. In my view they are still the Brexit party.”
Swinson: A new kind of politics
Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, said,
“I’d like to thank the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats for co-operating with this project and putting the national interest in front of the party.
“This is a new kind of politics that can offer a brighter future when we work across party boundaries to solve the biggest issues, like Brexit and the climate emergency.
“Together, we can stop Brexit and Unite to Remain.”
News broke at weekend
OnTheWight reported on Saturday that Lib Dem PPC, Nick Stuart, had written to Liberal Democrat members stating that he would be standing down as part of an alliance.
He then went on to tell the County Press that “incorrect information” was given to members in his “I’m not standing” email, but claims it was, “corrected shortly afterwards”.
OnTheWight revealed that what had been written to members was something else.
Article edit
11.11 – Comments from Anni Adams and Jo Swinson added
