Brexit Party Candidate Withdraws to Help Guildford Conservatives Win More Votes

Published on: 11 Nov, 2019
Updated on: 11 Nov, 2019

Five candidates currently left in the race to be Guildford’s next MP, four of them women.

The Brexit Party will not be contesting Guildford in the General Election on December 12.

Their candidate, Joe Domican, confirmed this afternoon he would be standing down after party leader Nigel Farage said his party would not contest seats the Conservatives won in 2017.

Tory supporters are understood to be pleased that their vote is no longer threatened by a split. Their party is now the only one that wants to proceed with Brexit without a further referendum

Only three days ago, Mr Domican had confirmed he was completing the nomination forms. Today he said: “I am obviously disappointed not to be standing for the Brexit Party in Guildford.

Joe Domican

“But I can agree with the logic of not splitting the Leave vote, especially since the Green Party have now aligned with the Remainers. Although, as a keen environmentalist, I would have thought the UK being free to make our own laws and go carbon-free faster, would be a good thing.

“I am sad to be retiring after my super-short spell in politics because the Brexit Party has lots of good ideas in its manifesto that I would have liked to share and discuss.

“I wanted to stand as a Brexit candidate because the party totally embraces all cultures and religions and campaigns for proportional representation, the fairest way for democracy to work and stop extremism, a smaller elected House of Lords, which is a real check on the power of Parliament, a written constitution to stop our MPs making the rules up as they go along, and making it illegal for MP’s to switch parties and change their publicly stated policies without holding a by-election.

“Democracy, for me, is the key issue and why I got involved in politics. I was angry at the contempt for democracy and the lack of personal integrity by our elected politicians. It is interesting how the word ‘populist’ is now used when democracy clashes with institutionalised power.

“It’s a shame that I will not now not be standing but good that it increases the chances of our EU referendum result being democratically implemented.”

Zoe Franklin

Zoe Franklin, the nominated Lib Dem candidate for Guildford, said: “The Brexit party standing down shows that the Conservatives and the Brexit Party are now one and the same.

“Voters in Guildford and Cranleigh now have a clear choice between Boris Johnson’s pro-Brexit Conservative candidate and me, the Liberal Democrat, who is committed to stopping Brexit and moving our country forward towards a brighter future.

“I urge everyone wanting to stop Brexit and who shares my vision of a fairer society, where our public services are properly funded and where we’re acting urgently to tackle the climate crisis, to join me and together we can make this a reality.

Anne Milton

Anne Milton, standing as an Independent after her ejection from the Conservative Party, said:  “I always knew there was a possibility the Brexit Party candidate may withdraw.

“This only goes to reinforce my decision to stand as an Independent.

“It is worrying that Nigel Farage now views a vote for the Conservative Party as a vote for the Brexit Party.”

Angela Richardson

Angela Richardson, Guildford’s Conservative candidate, said: “We need to get on with the issues that matter most to the people of Guildford, Cranleigh and our villages. The Brexit Party’s decision to stand down allows us to do this.

“Our priorities locally include: supporting our NHS, improving infrastructure, reducing flooding and building the right homes, in the right place, at the right price.

“The Conservatives are the only clear choice to deliver Brexit and the investment Guildford, Cranleigh and our villages need.”

Anne Rouse

Anne Rouse, the Labour candidate, said: “The Brexit party standing down means that the right-wing vote is split between two candidates, Angela Richardson, Conservative and Anne Milton, Independent, instead of three.

“Labour welcomes a range of candidates for voters to choose from, but the Brexit Party did not really offer much different from Boris Johnson’s Tories.

“Voters in Guildford will still have a choice between a party which wants to force us to leave (Conservatives), a party which wants to force us to stay (Lib Dems), and the Labour Party which will give voters a well-informed choice on the best possible deal.”

John Morris

John Morris, the Peace Party candidate, added: “I was not aware of anyone in Guildford wishing to stand for the Brexit Party at the forthcoming General Election.

“Had there been one, I would have welcomed that candidate to the contest and would have listened carefully and respectfully to the views expressed.  But I still believe, most fervently, that Europe could well become a less safe, secure and peaceful place were the UK to leave the European Union.”

Nominations for general election candidates close on Thursday (November 14).

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