The two progressive prospective parliamentary candidates that were in the running to become the People’s Champion in the East Wight Primary have responded to the news that Green Party candidate, Vix Lowthion, attracted 53 per cent of the vote and took the title.
The grass-roots
Lilley: The “Lib Dem message of fairness for the Island is winning support”
The IW Liberal Democrat Party shared this statement in response to the news, on behalf of the Chair, Andrew Garratt, and the prospective Parliamentary candidate, Michael Lilley,
“Liberal Democrat policy was clear that we could not take part in ‘Primaries’ such as East Wight Primary. We understand the Labour Party took the same position.
“Those who voted in the primary process are, naturally, self-selecting and so aren’t statistically representative as would be got with an opinion poll carried out by a professional polling company.
“In the last year, two council by-elections took place in the constituency with real votes in ballot boxes. These gave the Lib Dems 37% of the votes to 34% to the Conservatives, 15% for Labour and 3% for Green.
“We believe that this shows that the Lib Dem message of fairness for the Island is winning support across the constituency and that we are clearly challenging the Conservative Party.
“We will continue to campaign hard on our fairness message right through to polling day.”
Brothers: Labour has consistently opposed the negative tactical voting approach taken by EWP
Emily Brothers, the Labour candidate, told OnTheWight,
“Poll after poll consistently demonstrate nationally and locally that Labour is the only alternative to the Conservatives after fourteen years of failure and chaos.
“An independent group of academics, researchers and data analysists, ‘Best of Britain’ has studded MRP Survation polling and concluded that Labour on 33.30% or Conservatives on 32.18% can win. Reform are a good way behind on 19.73%, with the Greens languishing at 12.72%, Independent on 1.34% and Liberal Democrats 0.73%.
“The outcome of Isle of Wight East is very close, so every vote will count.
“Local people shouldn’t be distracted by limited self-selected ballots that seek to medal with voters actual intentions. The choice is stark, it is between Conservative and Labour, so there is no complacency on my part. I will be working hard to gain the trust of all voters living in Isle of Wight East over the next two weeks and beyond.
“Labour has consistently opposed the negative tactical voting approach taken by East Wight Primary. With all the talk of local, it is strange they have chosen a candidate who doesn’t even live in the constituency.
“I will endeavour to champion local people’s interests nationally, to bring much needed stability, investment and reform to our Island.
“I offer a set of local policies aligned to Labour’s national programme for Government. Our missions for economic growth, an NHS fit for purpose, transition to clean energy, safe streets and breaking down barriers to opportunity is a positive plan for change. Only with Labour, we can get our Island’s future back.”
