Last week Isle of Wight Labour said they would not be taking part in the East Wight Primary events, partly due to not having selected a candidate yet.
One of the central reasons has now been revealed. Not taking part in primary events is actually “In line with National Labour Party policy”, so even if the local candidate wanted to take part, they would be forbidden to by the national Party.
Attfield: Focused on raising voter ID awareness
Phil Attfield, Joint Secretary Isle of Wight Constituency Labour Party told News OnTheWight,
“The selection of Prospective Parliamentary Candidates is ongoing across the country and we keenly await the outcome of the due diligence and selection panels consisting of National and Regional Executive members.
“The Island CLP has an ongoing dialogue with Charity Garnett, organiser of the primary network in the East Wight.
“We have identified common ground that we can build on after the primary events have concluded, namely raising voter ID awareness and encouraging postal voting.”
Garnett: We are determined to actually achieve a progressive MP in East Wight
In response to the news, East Wight Primary co-founder Charity Garnett said,
“We are really disappointed that Labour have decided not to participate. The East Wight Primary is a way for voters who have shared values around fairness, wealth inequality and concern about the NHS, to get together and actually get represented in East Wight.
“The invitation to participate remains open until the day of our first meeting, 11th March, if a candidate has been selected in time and we hope Island Labour will reconsider. If an Island based candidate is selected, we hope they will attend, and if a mainland candidate, we hope they will take this rare opportunity to speak to hundreds of motivated voters, desperate for change.
“We are so determined to actually achieve a progressive MP in East Wight, not just come second, that we have decided, in consultation with our supporters, to keep Labour on the ballot paper.
“East Wight residents who attend our meetings in March will still have the chance to choose Labour, if they believe they are best placed candidate to beat the Conservatives in East Wight.”
Booking is essential
East Wight Primary (EWP) meetings are filling up, with Ventnor on 13th March full with a waiting list.
Booking is essential, and is done through the website.
To ensure fairness, only residents of East Wight who are on the electoral register will be able to attend the meetings and help choose through a secret ballot. Votes from the six meetings will be saved and counted on 23rd March when the ‘People’s Champion’ will be announced.
Support from volunteers
EWP volunteers have been engaging with local people in local towns and villages, leafleting and inviting people to participate in ‘democracy meters’ Volunteers will be in Shanklin this Friday 10.30am – 12.30am, and Ryde this Saturday from 10am-1pm.
On Sunday 25th February, (see photo) volunteers got together for a tech rehearsal for the events in March, including the voting procedure.
Tickets are still available through the website.
- 11th March 7-9pm The Bay
- 13th March 7-9pm Ventnor (sold out)
- 16th March 4-6pm Ryde
- 18th March 7-9pm The Bay
- 20th March 7-9pm Wroxall
- 23rd March 2-4pm Ryde (young people focus)
By uniting, the primary hopes to avoid vote splitting and send a progressive MP to Westminster to represent residents in East Wight.
Taking part in the “People’s Champion” vote
Mr Attfield explains that although the Labour Party will not have a candidate taking part in the primaries, it does not prevent Labour members from participating in the hustings and the “People’s Champion” vote.
He had suggested that if there is no Labour representation on the primary ballot paper, “Labour supporters will naturally have the option of spoiling their papers”. However, as Charity confirmed above, the Labour Party will be on the ballot people, even if a candidate is not selected in time.
Not threatened by Primary
Island Labour also say they do not see the Primary events as a threat,
“But as a reminder to everyone that the Isle of Wight can decide to return two MPs from the only Party that can replace the Tories and repair the damage they have done to Britain.”
15.9% swing needed for Labour to win East Wight
Mr Attfield also explains that for Labour to win the Isle of Wight East seat, a swing of just 15.9 per cent is required, well within national polling estimates and recent by-elections results.
For the Liberal Democrats to win the Wight East seat they would need a swing of more than 26 per cent, the Green Party would need more than 20 per cent.
