By Matt Verri
November 8 2019, 22.25
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As part of the ‘Unite to Remain’ pact, Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley will challenge the Dulwich and West Norwood seat held since 2015 by Labour’s Helen Hayes.
The Liberal Democrats had selected Ade Fatukasi to stand in the constituency, but have since announced he will be standing in Lewisham East instead to allow Bartley the best possible chance in Dulwich and West Norwood.
Under the movement, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and Plaid Cymru have formed an alliance to maximise the pro-EU vote in December’s general election.
Mr Bartley said: “We have to have an unequivocal remain voice in the House of Commons, this is one of the most remain constituencies in the whole country and there needs to be a strong Green voice to stand up to Labour in the local area.”
Chair of the Lambeth Liberal Democrats, Doug Buist, said: “We are in a time of national crisis and we recognise that we must work in the best interests of the future of our country and our communities.
“Parties committed to stopping Brexit have to co-operate to try to achieve that goal, this is why this agreement has been made.
“In Lambeth, the Liberal Democrats will be campaigning hard to get our two brilliant candidates elected in Streatham and Vauxhall, Helen Thompson and Sarah Lewis.
“They can win and will join other Liberal Democrat MPs in Parliament to stop Brexit, tackle the climate emergency and deliver our vision for a brighter future for the UK.”
In 60 seats across England and Wales, two of the parties will stand down and throw their support behind one candidate representing what they perceive to be the purest remain option.
The Dulwich and West Norwood constituency voted overwhelming to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum with nearly 78% voting against Brexit, and it is appealing to that sentiment that will dominate local debates in the weeks to come.
Dulwich and West Norwood has been a safe Labour seat since the constituency was created in 1997.
Dame Tessa Jowell represented the constituency from 1997 to 2015, and Hayes has since extended the Labour majority even further, receiving nearly 70% of the vote in the 2017 general election.
Indeed, the Green Party received just 2.5% of the vote in that election but with the Liberal Democrats standing aside Bartley will hope to strongly challenge the Labour seat and energise the dominant pro-EU feeling in support of the Green Party.
